Beware that if the loan amount you need is very low  ( sub  70K ) -  there are many lenders that cant/ wont be able to do the loan . 

Given your situation, you might want to explore refinancing options or a home equity loan to cover the renovation costs.

Can anyone point me towards an online calculator that will show how much sooner we would pay off our mortgage if we divided our monthly repayment amount by two and paid that amount (half of a monthly amount) every two weeks, instead of paying the monthly amount once a month?

EMD can be paid online.

Ensure that the net operating income (NOI) meets your investment goals.Future Developments: Investigate any future developments or infrastructure projects planned for the area, as these can significantly impact property values and rental demand.Financing: If you are planning on taking out a loan to purchase a property in this area it is imperative to make sure you are getting terms that align with your investment objectives.

I am looking to get into the real estate world in the short term with the idea of "house hacking" a duplex-quadplex with an FHA loan to start in the world of landownership.

This can mean additional costs for repairs and maintenance to meet these standards.Administrative Burden -> There can be significant paperwork and administrative work involved in maintaining compliance with Section 8 requirements.Please reach out to me directly if you want to go deeper into the subject, especially on the financing/loan side of things!

While specific rental data might be scarce on platforms like Rentometer, local real estate agents, property managers, and online rental listings can provide more accurate rent rates and market trends.

Conventioanl loan How did you add value to the deal?

You will be be responsible for the transfer taxes equal to the assessed value, plus deed preparation fees and if there is already a loan, that adds another layer of complexity.