Back in the Middle Ages, when I was a commercial broker, there was a guy named Minh Ho who made three or four offers on properties per WEEK.  

While I can get information on this question online, such as brick is obviously more durable and long lasting have a better resale value than vinyl, I'm still struggling to make the decision on which property to go with.There is a quadplex vinyl exterior property for 210 per unit versus brick exterior property with wooden deck in the backy for 230 per unit in middle Tennessee.

I do specialize in all of middle TN so let me know if you would like to connect and we could get a little more in depth. 

Lynchburg and Staunton are in the middle of nowhere, what makes you put them on your list?

That solved, we can move onto peace in middle east and all other conflicts in the world. 

I've found that accurate assessment with sufficient third party support can often help parties find middle ground. 

It would be worth exploring all options, and if you are willing to live in a duplex or one of those options, the rate for owner occupied financing isn't 8%, it is closer to 7%.Also, since the market is softer, you could easily ask for a seller credit to buy down the rate closer to the low 6s, and meet somewhere in the middle with a similar mortgage payment as a new build and get something that would be a really good house hack for a family with privacy, garage, etc and get the benefit of renting the other side or ADU.

Seems like rents have not keep pace with the increasing home prices over the past few years. 

The plan is to rent out the top unit to a long term tenant and for us to live in the middle unit until we move out (if we ever do). 

In cities where zoning is residential, there's more flexibility, especially in places like Oregon where legislation was passed a couple years ago to allow "middle housing" in all residential zones regardless of primary zoning.