Here are the questions I have on layout:1)  I can go two stories tall with a full basement - or - three stories on a slab - or - 2 stories on slab2)  What is ideal mix? 

@William HustonIt sounds like this CPA was looking at cash flow thru his tax deduction glasses.

CFID=...For VA: https://vip.vba.va.gov/portal/VBAH/VBAHome/condopu...As @Joel Owens said, read the condo docs with a magnifying glass. 

Some people may like the glass more per se, but do they like it 3x more?

It has its own court yard that could be used as a glass-covered atrium with a common area for people to relax.

I hope for you that it's not the former :-)Make sure to stay in touch with the PM and make sure the seller doesn't tell them not to spend the money to turn over the unit.Looking on the full half of the glass, these are 4 units you can push the rents on day one instead of waiting for a lease to renew with one of the tenants in the building.

It cranks out small panes of glass.  

If you want to befriend them you have to become one of them. drink red bulls, rent a big screen from Arron's, buy a new glass pipe from the corner store and suck hard. 

It was not an easy one, since we are in CA and the property is in OH, but we made it through and are looking to take on our next project.Bought: $79,900Initial budget: $65,000Real budget: $97,000 (mismanaged project by initial contractor (and second contractor))ARV: $219,900Improvements:Brand new siding on the second floor (was not in the initial budget)New roof (was not in the initial budget)Sealed and painted the basement - was quite creepy down there beforeOpened the floor plan from the living to the kitchen by widening an existing walkwayMoved the kitchen from one side of the house to the other to capitalize on the stained glass windowsGutted the upstairs bathroom and added really good looking featuresAdded a half bathroom and laundry room downstairs by the entry to the backyardNew ACNew plumbingNew electricOur contractor performed extremely poorly on this job, and I am happy to share a cautious word with anyone who aims to invest in Cincinnati about the team at Kaiker Development and Creative Customs Carpentry.

If you stand on a wide and strog foundation that is much more secure than standing tall on a pair of thin sticks.