If you are self-employed or own a small business - your best option would be Solo 401k plan, which is superior to SD IRA and Checkbook IRA, but there are eligibility requirement you must meet in order to set one up.Hope this helps.

One thing I would investigate is the disclosures required about people dying on the property. 

If you are getting a loan, they will require you to get "homeowner" insurance, which covers loss of the property due to fire and/or what other perils they may request (flood, earthquake, etc).

The goal is to reduce your living expenses, make some renovations to the property while you live there and learn how to be a landlord.

Architect(seems very expensive) or architectural designer will be enough?

This is more than the minimum required 3 day notice.

Perhaps the stress might then start getting to you and lead to an illness & expensive medical treatments that weren't fully covered by insurance.  

Did the current owner gut a unit requiring any new work done to be up to current code?

Could be expensive to find out. 

My only contribution as possible food for thought for you is to ask whether you have the ability to move to a less expensive area and house hack there?