It's not a rule, it's a guideline, and it doesn't work for anywhere in western WA. 

Would financing still happen in a similar fashion as if I were buying a fourplex?

If you are looking longer distance at some point western NY may be a good fit. 

I work the near western suburbs in Chicago, but my brokerage has other investor friendly agents who cover the whole area.

As to how we found it...we picked up both our Corona and Tuxedo places through New Western (Paul James' team).

It was a pretty easy job.I agree with Joe as well, I have units that I split the bill in the same fashion by number of tenants.

Good old fashion door knocking and talking to people.4.

if you are married but all of your investment property is in your name only, and you and your wife own property as tenants by the entireties all of the property held in that fashion is exempt from creditors that only you owe money on.So if your spouse is very afraid of the debt associated with rental investing you can do it only in your name and keep your house and and other fully paid off real estate in tenants by the entireties and if she does not owe on the debt then it is exempt from creditors.

I used to watch flip this house and property ladder before drama became fashionable.

He wanted in in some fashion...I was initially thinking of paying him a percentage to borrow the funds to purchase and either flip or keep as a buy and hold.