No good deed ever goes unpunished.It is long past the point of being nice with these people...get down to business now. 

FHA has slightly lower down payment, but you are forced to refinance if you ever want to get rid of MIP so you end up making that payment one way or another.Ask your lender what are all the differences in the products.

Ever.  

You might make 900/month on those 3 Gastonia properties that are the same price as one Harrisburg property that only cash flows 200/300 per month On the other hand, the Gastonia properties will have high turnover and the occasional drama from vacancy and/or needed repairs, that will decrease their valueLots to consider:  nothing is ever easy :)I can't imagine managing properties from across the Country. 

@Marianne Ciulla, did you ever find a good financial advisor?

Good luck in your venture and if you ever need anything around Lejeune let me know.Semper

You just need to evolve as you go.

I'm not sure if that's any better, but it's a question that is not good for a seller to answer ever.

There are universal principles of success that everyone who has ever succeeded has followed.

Could you ever imagine having a sink at your house that looked like these sinks from hell?