You get the property paid for, live rent free, build equity and have a place you can leverage in the future.

Once we get comfortable with our first unit, our goals are to look for additional multi-family homes in West Michigan and Northern Indiana (ideally within 3 hours drive of our place of residence).I'm a transplant from Oklahoma and work in the golf industry as a tournament director for a major championship.

I am an Investor from Wisconsin, but am currently living in the southeast suburbs of Pittsburgh, PA waiting for a double lung transplant. 

This will be my first, hopefully not last, multi I buy in the area and I want to make sure this is a semi decent place to live/rent out an apartment.

My thought was this, as a first time buy if I buy a triplex for 200k with 10-15k down, and I live in it, and it's my first purchased home ever, I rent out the other 2 units, for like $1500 each, and basically live rent free.

I'm a transplant from Ohio, and I've thrived as an IT professional here.

You would be in a great position to purchase a property without tapping into your funds, live rent free, and possibly generate a monthly net profit. 

There are many people that live rent free as there roommates pay the bills.

If you do a 4-unit and are very diligent about finding a great deal, you can basically have your 3 tenants cover all costs for the property & basically live rent free.

If you buy a personal and than rent out the rooms you can effectively live rent free while being able to take advantage of the low down/interest rates  of personal property.