Lower the price2.

Getting the lower unit separately metered seems like a pain.

Don't go for the cheapest (unless the price is lower because it is on sale), but also don't go for the most expensive. 

I really wanted to try finding a duplex that i could immediately rent out the lower half rather then buy a SFH and have a higher mortgage overallHow did you find this deal and how did you negotiate it?

Even in a lower priced investment property, like a small SFR, what does the investor without a contingency fund do when say the ac or a furnace need replacement?  

The longer term loans would have lowered your monthly payments and decreased the costs.As for rent, each year you need to look at rents in the area to decide how much you will be increasing the rent by. 

For $10K and a lower rate I'd be willing to consider delaying...but only if I knew that lender two was solid on closing in a relatively short timeframe.

I will be lowering the asking price and seeing if that will help in the sale of these properties.

I would remove debt to a 7-10 year time frame and lower fixed costs, at minimum.

Looking for any creative input on how something like this could be structured.Taking part of the purchase price of real estate as a charitable donation and using said deduction to lower your taxes is tantamount to sending a cover letter to the IRS with your return requesting an audit.