I'll always choose the space that has a special feature or two like a fire pit, fire place, hot tub, nice deck for BBQ'ing, etc.

Upgrading these features can significantly enhance the appeal of your property and justify the higher rent you aim to charge.  

Ordinances and codes can be complex and lengthy, I would recommend engaging an architect to assist and give in-depth analysis.  

Some real quick items here:VA Loans are for Primary HomesYou can use VA Loans for 1-4 unit properties (House Hacking)VA Loans have 0% downpayment (most of the time)You can have more than 1 VA loan (some people don't know that)VA Loans do carry a "funding fee" which is like a little "tax" to write the loan, but it is waived if you are a disabled veteran.VA Loans do not have PMI (and that's a huge benefit for us)VA Loans also have a very streamlined refinance feature (called a VA IRRRRL) which makes it super easy to refinance if rates were to fall (hopefully that will occur in the future)VA Loans can also be used by a surviving spouse.The VA may not give us the best health benefits but they can certainly get us into debt!

Just read this incredible headline WOMAN APOLOGIZES FOR FIRE STARTED BY EFFORTS TO KILL BEDBUGSMonday, November 09, 2015 11:00AM DETROIT, MI -- A Detroit woman has apologized for a massive fire that she and authorities said was accidentally started by her efforts to eradicate bedbugs from her apartment.Tuesday's fire tore through Ramblewood Apartments, destroying the 48-unit complex.

It's such a great feature, can't imagine why they'd do away with it.

This was super complex for me and REI is definitely not my forte, but it all went relatively smoothly. 

I find that the renters find it appealing when the apartment complex offers some form of move in discount as well. 

If you gain interest on the deposit, then you must pay that interest out to the tenant each year which adds to complexity and workload.Any bank should work.

The main feature of them is when I use one as an emergency fund.