Picking the best option has a lot of factors..

Based on my own experience, a key factor is patience.

In addition to cap x, repairs, management, and vacancy - you may want to factor in rent collection and eviction (time and $$$) and see how you feel after that.

The amount of financing is not a factor in calculating the capital gains tax on the sale of an investment property.  

I don't know cost details yet, and obviously that's a huge factor, but I was just curious if anyone here had given it a shot and how effective it was.

Those improvements are probably already factored into the price.Might make sense for owner-occupied considering you would not have another housing payment and or cash purchase which don't sound like a good fit for you at the moment.Nice job of coming to a decision based on good data instead of "ballparking it."

I use 55% to 60% expenses of SGI depending on factors that might cost me more in a fringe area.  

And always factor in active listings, sold listings, expired listings, and active/pending listings.

No obvious external or internal cosmetic deficits from pictures.Asking price= minimum bid 50k (as of 2/2016).

Factoring age in now, I'm wondering if two or three multifamily rentals over the next 3 to 5 years (trying to be realistic) will really get me that much closer to the financial independence I'm looking for out of real estate.