What do you suggest I do for renting it now?

He said even driving to pick up the rent check doesn't count (the driving part doesn't count), but picking up the check does (how long does that take?

You'll probably need a co-borrower and someone to gift the down payment.There's a Conventional loan (FNMA family opportunity loan) that allows your parents to purchase a home for you (and potentially roommates) to rent while you're still in college.

People can't afford to buy so they continue renting (and stay longer!).

Thanks  Section 8 is typically going to be on the higher end of market rents for any given area.

It had 22 of the 25 lots occupied but we'll be fixing it up, filling it up, billing back water and raising rent up to market.

Those condos sell for around $2 million, but they rent for $400 a night.

Can you PROVE that the landscaping increases rents of ability to rent? 

Real estate's "gross rent multiplier" is Wall Street's "sales to revenue",  "cap rate" is roughly "P/E ratio".When evaluating markets and investments I tend to start with GRM (or lazily the 1% rule), then attempt to return a cap rate based on assumptions about costs, then I work my way to multiple years of projections (assumptions about inflation, amortization, tax benefits, etc), and if I am partnering with one of my smart friends I have to pull up an IRR (internal rate of return).I also look at regional employment levels, median income to rent ratio in the zip code etc. 

I am renting two units (1 basement and 1 side unit) in my primary residence.