This obviously will eliminate certain strategies from consideration.If we eventually build a portfolio of several medium to large multi-family properties my wife will assist with the management.The multi-family market seems inflated at the moment so we're willing to be patient if needed.  

I'm an attorney who lives in a medium-sized, rural town in Kentucky that truly is flourishing.

Current tenants have 2 dogs (medium size, hypo-allergenic, poodles) which need to be brought outside during the showings (bit of a hassle for the tenants, but they are fine with letting me show the property).  

In the past few years, about 200-400 yards outside the neighborhood is a fire department, medium upscale grocery store with conneted strip mall of about 10 units, all full.

I'd try and strike a happy medium but please secure a lender on the back end first - at least a verbal okay and then get their opinion as you being to acquire properties to see if they will fund those deals on the back end.

Over the last yearor soI have been redirecting those SD funds into an investment strategy that is for medium term (3-5 year) buy and hold portfolios of 10 properties each, for some very good cash flow and excellent projected returns.  

Perhaps your tenant feels the same.I would much rather have a tenant pay me with cash/cashiers check and go home content that they paid rent on time, rather than demand that they pay me via a certain medium and they go home (to my house by the way) upset, complaining that the landlord is mean and pushy over something that may appear to the tenant as very simple.

Lighter medium or the darker high-end looking.

The city will also require you to have a certain width along the street for your zone. 

You are on the hook for maintenance, repairs and vacancy.So - maybe as is as  note and D of T but lower payment or meet in the middle on price difference but still with a financing medium that gives you ownership day 1 @Edward Smith!