I successfully converted a 2400 sq ft single family 3 bed/2 bath into a 2800 sq ft, two separate 3 bed/2 bath ADU, by converting a two car garage into livable space in Santa Barbara. 

Bought it for $95k off market, planning to put in about $43k and sell for $190k.We walked through twice and the seller told us there was no basement and no crawl space. 

I have a retail/office space that is the first floor of aMulti use facility I own.

I would suggest trying to find Single Family homes where you can have separate living spaces (walkout basements, separate entrance) that way you get the comfort of a duplex without the price. 

Between the rental units I own and the ones I manage through my property management company, there are almost always some things that pop up for the first month or two as tenants settle into a new space. 

Strata fees and people not wanting to share space with other people is causing a significant drop in prices.

Is there any way to do a value add, you mentioned the basement. is there any living space down there?

Have them not anything wrong (carpet condition, paint, yard, etc.)I just helped with a lease of some commercial space for a non-profit I sit on and their leasing agent didn't do this.

For a linear array of 14 spaces, including installation, I was quoted about $28k for full cantilever (posts at the very end) or about $25k for semi-cantilever (posts offset from the end by 7.5'. 

I do have some contacts there, specifically in the luxury short-term rental space.