In my limited experience opinion, the backyard cottage would need a "single family house feel" with separate yard, parking, and entrance to attract people who need two bedrooms versus single younger tenant who might not care so much about the "feeling" and only needs 1 bed. 

I'm sure fire code dictates that there needs to be at least two entrances/exits, and one of their exits would be into the back yard. 

I can tell you that I've done a few hard money loans to other investors in Killeen recently, and they've never had problems paying me back, so use that as an extra data point.Personally, I'm both too lazy and not organized enough to do deals more than an hour away (unless they're truly phenomenal), and I tend to discourage new investors from doing the same, although if it's truly your only entrance avenue I would say at worst it'll be a cheap education.

The complex is an old school board building that has been turned into a 6 plex, all with there own entrance and parking.  

It is a split level floor plan with 2 exterior entrances and a door at the bottom of the steps in the entry that can be locked, so it can also be rented as two 2/1 apartments independent of each other.On VRBO I've only paid for one subscription for the whole house, but on that listing I've mentioned that it can be rented as individual apartments also.

I have a few questions (if these are annoying and I'm high-jacking this thread, feel free to yell at me):1 - For a unit with an in-law suite being rented, does the unit need its own entrance or kitchen in order to get the same rental tax benefits as a duplex/triplex (i.e., depreciation on the portion of the home being rented)?

Just purchased a property that is zoned as a single family with a single address, however it is configured as 2 units with separate entrances.

(add 3rd bedroom, finish basement, turn into duplex)Our primary goal is to turn it into a duplex and close off the kitchen to create a separate entrance to the basement where we would also need to finish it into a separate apartment.

From my research so far Canary looks promising:https://canary.is/ Does anyone have experience with this cameras or other suggestions for outdoor monitoring of a front and back entrance and parking lot?

What I mean is, considerations like parking, separate and isolated patio areas, daylight basements, separate entrances, larger lots so your next door neighbor isn't right on top of you watching every move you make.