Having these facilities within a short walking, driving, or biking distance will dramatically improve quality of life and easier integration into the community.

His mom was an extreme hoarder and he doesn't want to deal with having to clean it out and list it.

Both of us on loan, we get owner occupied interest rates and flexible down payment amount (although I feel I would want to put down 20% to remove PMI)Once Dad sells his home (easier to do than finding a duplex) he will give me about $55-65k of the profits, be the owner occupier in a duplex, go halfsies on repair/cap ex, but only wants to pay about $500 per month (he'll adjust for inflation!) 

I'd love to get started by house hacking in a multi family but that seems easier said than done in the Boston market?

Most people (me included) feel that purchasing your first couple properties under your own name is easier and cheaper than in an LLC.

You'll know if the tenants are in trouble, and it's easier on turnover to keep services on for repairs, etc. 

They had a cleaning lady and manager helping run the whole thing while they lived in France.

Paul in the next week and wants some really good, clean, responsible tenants, let us know.

Most do not realize that you will be cooling less square footage and will have less to clean AND a lower tax bill with a smaller house.

Easier to get in, bigger cash flow numbers, lower taxes, but there is less expectation for appreciation and Newark is more of a B-C area than PA which is an A area in my opinion.