Both units will need to be rebuilt as they are beyond repair, or at least, the cost of new construction outweighs fixing them.

Most times, the number of questions outweighs the answers.For those of you have overcome this “analysis paralysis”, where do you start?

With that being said, which out weighs the other?

And, if typical loan terms are typically far higher for these slightly bigger buildings, are there other financial advantages to buying, say, a 6-unit vs a 3 or 4 unit that would outweigh the disadvantages? 

I've been interested in getting into real estate and think my mom's house would be a good start (it has over an acre of land, in a good neighborhood and fixing it up won't outweigh profit, if I ever wanted to sell it).

If she can claim something that would monetarily outweigh the pocket change for T.P. then she would feasibly be able to stay in our shared home indefinitely.  

Sometimes the higher price points actually pencil out better because the gross income outweighs the costs, it's about advantages at scale.

If the costs outweigh the benefits don't get licensed,  otherwise do it!

The cost and effort to do it now will far outweigh the headache you will have when you need to get those permits 10 years from now on the work you are doing today. 

As demand continues to outweigh the supply the rental costs do not seem to be levelling off anytime soon.