If you can buy a 16-unit complex or 4-quads which would you recommend and why?

Just one of the ways our legal system can be very complex at times.

This approach can avoid the complexities of selling the properties and dividing the proceeds.

The issue you may also run into is from a tax perspective, but I am not the expert on that.This seems too complex honestly and one of those, you cannot figure out what could go wrong until its too late scenarios.

. :-)There is such a low bar to entry into the field, and frankly it is an incredibly complex job (once again, to do it right) Heck, I even had a license (in Cali) back in the day.

Most big complexes turn away good people when they do not meet all the checkboxes they require. 

Sweet deal! 

I seeking to acquire a 16 unit apartment complex.  

I'd say for 90% of the people who tell me they want to create LLCs, it really doesn't make sense, and just adds a level of complexity and expense to their investments. 

Vet that is interested in house hacking my way up to apartment complexes and I am considering Houston as a location for that purpose.