With my desired duration of paying them for 15 years, The investor earns their money back, plus an ROI of $45,860.

One who is active still and recently did a case study write up like this is Don Konipol, the other pops on every now and again and did a BP episode many years ago Aaron Mazzrillo so search those two names and read some threads.A more likely scenario is not what you mentioned as the ever growing note/value deal, at least not as outlined.

I searched for a few months and ended up buying a rent-ready, duplex in Brookhaven, PA.

There are down payment programs for duplexes, i have not searched or tried to do a 3-4 unit property. 

We look for good school systems, low crime and desirable neighborhoods.

Search in perplexity.ai for vendors in your market and reach out. 

We will shop for used appliances where we can when we need one… or pick up used cabinets if we can, or search eBay for something smaller,  but going to the extreme of personally shipping something big in internationally for one-off renovation needs seems like a stretch of reasonable.Just like you mention, the number of unknowns would not seem to be worth it to me.Just my 2 cents.Randy  

Here are a few suggestions on how you can maximize the wealth of information available: Check out the blogs and podcasts, or take advantage of the search feature (magnifying glass).

I’d LOVE to be able to use BP tools for multi-family searches.  

If you buy upscale (desirable) properties in desirable areas as opposed to affordable (undesirable) crapboxes in undesirable areas you won’t need to entice tenants.