10 years from now you will have 4 buildings empty although one you will be half started on one.

Unless you’re partnering or doing something super specific it’s just easiest to do it yourself

Fixing one that is almost 40 years will most likely cost you half of that just to get it to code, and maybe more to attract buyers for resale.And there is the monthly rent.

i show properties becuase in my contract it says BUYER has access to property to show potential assignees and/or their agents." consult with attorney on this i'm not an attorney. i just invest in real estate. i would say its not convoluted if someone knows what they are tlaking about. a half way decent attorney should be able to explain it. or you can call the state deptartment that licenses real estate brokers and ask them. 

He wants to get paid his half immediately but I think we should keep like $200 of the $700 a month for unforeseen expenses.

The other option is to look for someone with money to partner up with - friends and family are usually the easiest place to look but often the hardest to work with. 

I haven't seen any livable multis in those areas that would allow you to rent half and live for free unless you did some serious fixing.

First month we spent close to half month rent to fix things they requested.

I put half my house in a storage unit and was amazed at how great a business it seems to be!

He lived there 15 years and I never assessed a late fee, though over the years it probably happened a half a dozen times.