If they get married it will help her earn SS benefits, etc etc. 

Jim your also describing one of the huge benefits of being a transactional RE Broker ..

. - Many areas around the country allow for ADU Construction - house-hackers enjoy similar benefits to remodeling projects by being naturally on-site for ADU construction. 

@Zach Howard you pretty much MUST hold it in an LLC if you don't have the proper visa or greencard.1) Many attorneys over-hype the benefits of an LLC for each property.

Are there benefits of joining a specific brokerage or are they all about the same?

For no reason that will benefit you. 

If your doing an FHA and plan to stay in one side you have to figure out what that would benefit you.

It may work in the long term but can be a painful process.i wish the OP the best and i believe he can benefit by recognizing the value in the various responses but seems unwilling.  

Additional DetailsI’m willing to invest in out-of-state properties, though I prefer areas with good property management options.My primary focus is passive income, but I’m also interested in value-add opportunities.I want to ensure these investments provide strong tax benefits and diversify my portfolio.I’d love to hear from experienced investors:What would you do in my position?

So on numerous occasions, I have expressed my concerns about staying within my budget.Now on top of this, the property manager let the pipes freeze and they leaked and the boiler also cracked which I was told to file an insurance claim.