I have a 2-person unit with a glass top dining table and it has worked well.

Quote from @Leonard La Rocca III: So is it common to find a conventional loan without meeting the lender in-person?

Personally never heard of this scheme or way to set up transactions. 

I personally would go that route as it would probably be less expensive. 

If you set the vision and then define the roles and responsibilities I think you can have an easier time finding the person you are looking for.

That would be a separate mortgage and not what amounts to a second loan on your personal residence, which if you have spouses, they might not be that into. 

It's led to incredibly high occupancy rate in the off-season, but I'd rather have a slightly lower occupancy rate in order to reduce wear and tear and leave some weekends open for personal use.I'm at a loss on what to do about this.

Our house had a garage but was walled up and made into just a storage room and I would like to make it into a little studio and sort of house hack.

I don’t think that is the person this sort of situation is meant for.

I'm now finally here in person, and have started to go view places in person with the intent of purchasing.