If you ever want to get ahead in life your will have to act like a grown up adult and pay taxes like everyone else.

Maybe no one ever views my property and then stays somewhere else!

Our lots also represent 8 of the 12 such lots that are zoned for short-term rental within the larger single family home subdivision.

My long term goal is to 1031 exchange a portfolio of residential investment properties (ideally all multiplexes, but probably some 1-2%/mo sfrs) into a larger commercial property, ideally 15+ units, with a much more hands off operation. with that in mind, would it be better for me to save up for a larger down payment and never live in my properties, only manage from within 50-75miles (my Dallas proper neighborhood is NOT in my current budget right now) or would it be okay to #HOUSEHACK my first one and then househack a second one in 18-24months, etc. anyone go down this path before that can offer some advice?

As a kid, did you ever play a game with a group of other kids and then like magic, all of the rules flipped right in the middle of the game?

I assume their niche is probably someone with a larger cash pool who is just looking to diversify their portfolio.

And with cash, you have the freedom to shift your investments into what ever you want, like a project overseas. 

I would recommend you start by downloading your landlord tenant laws for your state..Then set your rental criteria,, credit score, income, (= to 2 or 3 time the rent ), occupancy limit per bedroom size of apartment... no cosigners,No pets,, no smoking,, what ever..but it stays the same for everyone.. 

However after my showing I think its a much bigger project than I anticipated and likely wouldn't qualify for traditional financing, so wanted to ask the community about how larger developers are turning these big old houses into multiple condos all over Boston.

you learned never sign that length lease term ever again,, To take photo's of move in condition and exit condition...Probably charge initially more for security deposit..