Or a hair salon or a quad-plex... etc.By providing my children with a debt free entry into society with the potential to tap liquid funds for investment I have set them apart and I will have also allowed them the ability to be their own persons and not be anchored to my "dream."

I dont have a particular preference but if you want to split hairs beginning to middle (5-15th) is better since debt isnt due for 45 days from closing and you also get prorated rents from tenants for the remainder of the month. 

We've learned not to split hairs over a few thousand and that's how we got this one.

And I travelled the country for 10 years w/o and then w/ kids so agreed - well stocked is really nice if it's large parties... for us working travelers I just wanted cleanliness - rather have clean and sparse than hairs/food/trash left behind and it's stocked to the hilt

Is there one that typically is more successful than the other or am I splitting hairs?

Find an old hair successful investor who will share his hard earned knowledge and will only cost you cup of coffee or an occasional lunch!  

My hair dresser is a tenant, my current handyman was referred by a tenant, I rent to the children of subcontractors I hire,  I rent to my the children and friends of my current tenants, I refer tenants that need help to agencies where I have tenants working, I eat at the restaurant owned by a tenant.

The word 'SECRET' really raises the hair on the back of my neck.

My income puts me into a 35%+ tax bracket... so taxes are a big hair cut and a loan structure that allows me to pay more interest up front would probably be beneficial (so I could deduct it). 

You'll probably have to keep chasing him down for rent for the next couple of months but then he'll be out of your hair and you can find someone more reliable.