An individual carrying back the sale of their home (owner occupied) won't be held to higher institutional standards, RE operators.investors may be being in the business. 

My preference is Single Family, although I currently own some mobile homes, some parks, and some small multi-family as well as notes on land and houses. 

They prefer owner-occupants, but like local investors.

Are utilities paid by individual unit tenants?

Use individual leases to reduce risk, screen tenants carefully, and set clear rules about noise and responsibilities.Good luck!

Any active duty base is preferable.    

I’m here to network with like-minded individuals, share experiences, and grow my knowledge in real estate investing.

The type of your business or the fact that you are paying them as an individual does not take away the requirement to file 1099s." 

Just depends on your risk tolerance with the fixed or variable rate preference and which makes more sense for cash flow. 

Start with your primary, rent out any spare bedrooms "house hack"Use that to practice upgrades, kitchen, bathroom, curb appeal... etcNow you have experience as a landlord and flipper, use that to buy a distressed propertyAdd 40% equity to the property through home makeover, refinance into a low cost mortgageNow you are cashflowing a healthy margin on a second property, use that to build equity over time, cashout later and buy your duplex/quad.If it's going to take you 10 years to save up a down payment for a small apartment building, yeah it makes more sense to start growing your portfolio with cheap SFR flips instead.Every market is different, every borrower is different, every property is different, it would be ill-advised to recommend anything without recognizing the individual's nuanced goals and objectives with their next acquisition.