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The ONLY advantage is taking over the existing interest rate.

I also want to take full advantage of the opportunities available to me now, while I am not obligated or bound to a specific location.

This is mainly because they want to put it into the commercial category.

Isn’t the advantage of MHP ownership the fact that you own the land (pad sites), have limited maintenance and limited management, and that tenants tend to be long term because mobile homes are costly to move? 

On the flip side, having more choice in location with an existing product could be advantageous to both his personal life and the earnings potential; add in the second unit having the potential of being a STR/MTR and location becomes even more important.The contract/permit side CAN be challenging location by location; assuming he's working with someone who knows what they're doing, Raleigh makes it easier to get permits for these larger "small scale" projects than Durham.

Ask what they see them selling for and what expenses are by category.

Also depends on if you will ever want/need a roommate, one advantage of a 2bd is obviously if you are ever in pinch you can rent the 2nd bd, but if your pretty confident that’s not something you’ll do, I’d lean newer 1bd, not to mention that’s where the best deals are right now.

I don't want to discourage you as anything is possible and the more resourceful you are the more advantage you'll have. 

@Matt Wells typing this out might get complicated in a hurry so I'll try to summarize and you can certainly reach out directly if you would like to talk it through.Conventional loans categorize loans into 3 main categories:  Purchases, No Cash Out Refinance, and Cash Out Refinances.