There is a very slim chance I will actually live there, but the possibility of being able to makes me want to take on this deal myself.

It's not impossible, but without a real hardship case your chances of negotiating a short sale are pretty slim.

There's a pretty slim chance anyone will lend you $100k without a sizable asset to promise as collateral.

The odds of someone wanting your RV, who also has an investment property you want, are slim.

The chances of a wholesaler waiting for traditional financing is slim. 

Here in Rhode Island the pickings are slim lately.

It is not the looming upswing in baby boomers getting ready to retire that really has me doubting Wall Steet, it is some of the greedy slim that is behind what caused this mess.

If the deal is too slim...then that is another story.Its all about the deal.

I currently have two SFH on one lot, but, cannot split due to the lack of street frontage (one is behind the other) and minimum lot size requirements.The original post, for me, is confusing in that a tri-plex, in my mind, is a 3 unit apartment, whereas 3 SFH (as in Single Family Homes) suggests each is detached.If they are all detached, perhaps a slim chance that the lot could meet all the frontage, minimum lot size, setbacks, etc. required to subdivide, but it would open up the possibility of selling to homeowners at a higher price.

While I like your strategy of buying a duplex and living in one side, this specific deal is too slim for my taste.