Owner-occupied loans are a fantastic way to reduce your capital invested and boost CoC but don't expect to refi into an investment loan after only a year unless you put significant work into the property.

So much time and energy spent on this.

I remember $50...then $100 and now I see many property owners have increased that to $200 to help reduce the number of calls from tenants who can't change a lightbulb, replace the flapper on the toilet etc.  

I guess it's also worth looking at what's happening in the economy on a macro level - energy prices are on the rise (in some regions they are at an all time high already).

Would the rate at which a 2 - 4 unit property appreciate be more than a 20 unit property in the same area? I presume that there would be a lot of buyers with an appetite to buy a 2 unit property (i.e high demand) but ...

Usually in my area landlords pay the heat or the rent is reduced to make up for it.

You may reduce your equity and your CoC will go up.

Upon your lease ending, the landlord is responsible for doing the exit walkthrough and siting any deficient items in which your deposit would be reduced and providing you the tenant the option and ability to cure those items prior to departure.

They both say that they have not been using more energy than normal but the bill for a unit with a single tenant was $200 and another unit with 2 tenants that are gone for most of the day was a little over $300.

. This will be my first property so it would be nice to work in a solid buffer as far as cash flow goes to reduce the risk (or at least be compensated for the extra risk).