As you begin your REI journey here is one tip I have for you:Use this website as you are trying to narrow down the places you want to invest in. https://www.areavibes.com/Its awesome because it gives you a "total livability score" & you can compare different zip codes & streets to others. 

Comparing workload, a multi-unit property will still require showings, maintenance etc for multiple units.

To rent the home, I would lose about $2,500 per month (based on comparable rents in my area, property management fees, etc).Both options loose the same amount by roughly 2 years, and by this time, I still will not have built up much more equity in the home to make selling it a break even unless there is price appreciation by then.My dilemma is this: I speculate that my home will not appreciate much in the next 3-5 years due to the rapid pace of development in the surrounding area.In 5-10+ years, maybe, but by then I'll have bled $150,000 - $300,000.I have thought about this a lot and feel that I mar'-too close to the problem to see the best solution.

Verify employment and call previous landlords to avoid tenants with red flags.Rent Setting: Research comparable rentals in your neighborhood to ensure your rent is competitive.Use Technology: RentRedi is a great choice.

I'd like to know your thoughts/advice on how to compare long-term and mid-term rentals.

Relative AffordabilityDespite recent price increases, Buffalo’s housing market remains more affordable compared to many other U.S. metros.

I'd be happy to get you some rough terms to compare to other options that you have, but I also agree with Jay that you should be wary of just selling and loosing that equity that you've built up in the property.

Having some prior experience with a flip and a BRRRR locally will definitely come in handy.As someone who’s also from the Bay Area and has done rehabs on my long-term rentals, I wanted to share a bit from my own experience.

I suspect in most mortgages the Borrower entering into this type of agreement without the written consent of the prior lender would be a default.What debt coverage ratio do you think would be fair considering the risk? 

Interest rates between a HEL and a refi are comparable, the equity in the property is equal to the value of the property and I only need about 50% to purchase another property.