I would be curious as to what part of town your property has sat for the last month and see how it compares to nearby comps. 

The lot is in Central Phoenix, on a developed street, so utilities, are nearby the land is uneven, I would say the elevation changes around 7 feet, and currently there is a wash going through the property. 

But ya I aimed for 3 bed 1-2 baths, cuz I can always live in one of them, or the basement if it is good enough to clean and actually stay. and rent out the rooms. check out prices for one room in your area, or near by apartment complexes and base your numbers / deposits and rules off of them

If you have 16k cash and can afford the holding costs, live nearby and can keep the property and rehab materials secure it might work out.

Check out the nearby members and network at https://www.biggerpockets.com/meet, it will help you a lot to find partners that can help you out in investing. 

For example, I was looking at a condo complex nearby, and they're selling for about $108/sq. ft.

I have been renting in Morristown, NJ the last 2 years and am looking to begin a house hack primarily in Morris County but open to other areas near by. 

I travelled for my work, and for a few years we lived in Malaysia, and we made a conscious decision to stockpile our miles. 

We'll also likely use a property management which reduces the need to be nearby. 

If you find a good street, but the houses need work, start with 1, then go for houses nearby, and improve the area!