I am foreseeing a bit of a push back or even turned-off potentially decent tenants by the $50/pp screening fee, mostly for a family of 4 ($200 out of pocket).I was wondering if offering a credit of either 50% or the full 100% of the screening costs from the first or second month's rent is a good idea.Thought?

Also, good call on the potential rent control- I will research that a bit further. 

Owner occupied loans have allowed us to purchase properties in markets with heavy appreciation, and potential for huge rent increases.

In our case, avoiding a buyer's commission seems to be potentially helpful with negotiations, especially since we are purchasing below what we can afford, and can pay up front for RE attorney, buyer RE fees, etc.

It has so much potential.

Smart investors first focus on finding quality properties—such as those in thriving areas of Brooklyn or potential neighborhoods around Manhattan—and then reverse engineer the process by improving management, optimizing rental structures, or enhancing facilities to make it worthwhile.

My focus is on uncovering properties priced under $800K with the potential to gross six figures annually.

Since you’re committed to staying close to family, I’d suggest focusing on properties that might need a little work but have potential for appreciation in your market.

We are willing to provide additional documentation to support our request and discuss any potential steps to ensure a smooth and fair process for all parties involved.Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Besides the higher down payments, higher interest rates, and potentially shorter terms on commercial loans (all easy to underwrite with a couple calls to lenders), commercial deals in the 5-20 unit range are not much different than a 4 unit.