As long as the Lease is in place, you do not need to return the security deposit, one of the reasons being, is that it can be applied to unpaid rent.

If not allowable, you would most likely have to apply for a variance. 

Also, if you can benefit from cost segregation, we do not know whether it will apply to the current year or to the year of acquisition.

My comments apply to the hospitality business in general. 

Generally "multifamily" in real estate will tend to mean 5+ units, but if looking for 2-4 units your current options that you listed are pretty good - but would not apply to anything bigger by unit count

Yeah, It's a ton of money. my thought would be after installing the solar, separating out the meters and then having the tenant pay their own electric, but I would keep the meter with the solar running thru it and apply the unused credits to electric accounts on some of my other properties, and not offsetting the tenant's meters.

This will be my first property and I plan on house-hacking (hopefully a multifamily) and applying the MTR strategy.

Before wasting time looking for properties or spending a lot of time on projects, they should make sure they can get the financing because a) financing might not be available, b) they might not qualify or c) the cost of debt might be prohibitively right.Another mistake investors make is believe that they can apply a US strategy or financing model overseas.

You can even just re-write your new lease for their same rate of rent and expiration date, but with YOUR terms and conditions that apply to you being the landlord.  

My family is in the initial stages of a move to Japan and  applying for a business manager visa.