To those who have been doing this a while is there any big advantage to just go commercial early on if you feel that is the direction you are shooting for, or do you try and max out the number of conventional mortgages first before they cut you off.

There is no grass to cut.

Great answer above and I will simply reiterate that utilizing leverage at low rates to invest in other cash producing assets creates arbitrage and so long as you use the leverage responsibly and you do not over extend, I think it is a great idea.

When the time comes to cut them a check, put both names on it if both names are on the lease.

Would it be possible to go to the property and simply ask what's going on or has the relationship become hostile and potentially violent?

You then simply have the seller sign a M2M lease with the new tennat.

I only found this out when the water was cut off by the city for non-payment and the other tenant complained about not having water.

Try to look at your spending and see where you can cut back and use that money to pay extra on any credit cards or loans.

I've never done it, but I wonder if a possibility in some situations is simply to tie up the property through a legal proceeding so that the seller can't sell it with clean title to anyone else for an extended period of time.

Otherwise you simply may want to take an equity draw which is a non-taxable event (check with your cpa).