Ironically, platforms designed for real estate (Zillow, Apartments.com, Rentler, etc.) produce very few tenants for me, compared to FB Marketplace (and I also find a lot of their functionality to be user un-friendly, from the landlord side). ...you'd think that platforms custom-made for real estate would make the process a snap for landlords, but it takes me a lot longer to post and manage rental listings on Zillow or Rentler than it did on Craigslist.

I'm genuinely asking to understand the use case for my self for an individual investor.Re. balance, as someone who is a former CPA and has prepared financial statements for multi-billion $ funds, I understand the important of a balance sheet.

Talk to a few local banks and get preapproved - the best financing will be for properties you choose to occupy, so I'd recommend getting something with at least two units.

@Ed Ventura, if the property is not zoned as multi-family and has several dwellings on the property, it likely will not qualify for an FHA loan. 

And I don't know what the cap rates are in the area for SFRs, but I did a quick Redfin search for a small multi-family home in the area that's turnkey: https://www.redfin.com/VA/Richmond/1622-N-31st-St-23223/home.... 

They also offer a small business plan if you need additional functionality for rentals. 

None of them are functioning.

And as for a multi, I'd argue it's best to build, not buy, especially if going out to the NW "burbs".

Also if you are an investor looking in Vegas-be very cautious-plenty are selling as “functional STR”- leading ppl to believe that the license can be transferred-IT CANNOT.

Quote from @Rob Gallitto: Getting ready to sell a multi-family property in Northeastern, Ohio the property has two units.