If this is a long term hold you'll want to have finishes that match comps, but are also still very durable for tenants.

Without knowing stuff like this, all the answers provided are meaningless. 

I'm terrified enough of doing this out of state, so I am not interested in additional complexities with BRRRR.

This was the assumption we operated under until December 2023.

Rent: $1,968 (as of Jan 2025) Excited for this new outdoor destination?  

That would make this much more complicated, since you'd likely need lender approval.In any event, you'll want to check your mortgage (if you have one) and the lease to see if you can transfer or assign.

Here $10 is reasonable) to each unit's monthly cost for the work to handle this utility cost and associated billing and put this in writing in each lease renewal.

Ideally this would be a multi-family property that I can live in and rent out the other units.

It’s not necessarily more difficult than market-rate rentals, just different.If you’re seriously considering this route, feel free to reach out.

From what I've seen in this area right now, it seems like you'd have a hard time paying market LTR rents and making a good spread.