I cannot stress the importance of finding a very good Investor Friendly CPA.

I find it so ridiculous to watch someone stressing over which flooring to choose while there are real troubles in the world today (I read too much of the news I suppose).

I am lucky that I am married to a woman and she has been saving money for about 25 years and takes a bunch of stress off me and we live in a house that the mortgage has been paid off and we have a daughter that wanted to go to college and my wife is paying for that.  

I'm so stressed, anxious, tired, exhausted, at a lost...I wrote this long book so that you guys can know what it is going on and will best be able to assist, guide, provide advice. 

And if some sod re-seed is all it took to take the stress of crappy new tenants of him- he was happy. 

This is a renters society now. 

In my situation, a December closing would be perfect if I didn't have to make a loan payment for 45-60 days, because I could get the painting, flooring, etc done, before I move in and I would still be in my apartment and not have to stress about moving, as I would have until the end of February.Conversely, if I didn't close until late January or February, I'd have less time to get things done that are easier to do when it's empty, because if lease was up,then I would have to move out, since I wouldn't want to make a mortgage and rent payment (if at all possible).

Save yourself a lot of stress, Don’t get yourself in hot water, hire a professional Property Manager

If you can work it out so caring for your mother-in-law does not create undue stress for the family while she lives in an apartment you own I'm all for it.

If your goal is to just have a couple stress-free properties, then maybe it is better to go in with all cash.