Typically, co-op's are less valuable than condos for a number of reasons such as supply/demand, lack of investor interest, older units, estate planning issues, financing and board policies. 

My experience is those have been in short supply since beginning of time. 

Hi Jemini, I would start by doing research in the markets you're interested in to see what the rents vs. purchase prices are along with looking at the supply and demand of the market. 

Additionally, the supply of homes for sale is constrained because of this and will be for some time putting upward pressure on prices in most markets.Thinking about renting your house in Seattle would be wise as someone else will pay the mortgage down, and rents and the value of the property will go up over time.

Let me know what you think.As a matter of information, smoking/vaping is prohibited inside our rental units.

The supply of rentals would be impacted, but the final impact will depend on the local market.

I realize now that I should have supplied numbers initially- for numbers I am looking for $650k and under.

If you find someone that will let you supply the materials and work for labor only and sign a contract you supplied , you have hired an employee , a laborer , not a contractor .

When the smoke clears after a sale, everything falls to the buyer's responsibility.  

The money that you end up owing to repay the loan over the 5 year term is now post income tax money unlike how you traditionally are supplying your 401k with pre-tax money.