Title will create the deeds for ownership.

What's the custom for allowing, not allowing, charging an extra deposit for, or any special considerations, (or none) for the issue of smoking in your apartments?

Also create some pain.

Investing out of state is significantly more complex than investing local...you'll be depending on someone to be your eyes and ears...this typically creates a huge conflict when you enter an industry where half the agents can't find their *** with both hands and the other half are commission driven...you're really looking for the 1% that has well established tools for long-distance investing. 

Focus on why he has let an asset sit there and collect dust and create no revenue.

It's true for many Americans - in fact, the man who created the 401(k) in the 70s regrets it, because it created a false sense of security and many will indeed find their retirement savings woefully inadequate.

Yes, jobs were lost but other jobs were created via adaptation and evolution. 

Intent is to live in the largest area of the house, rent an already existing basement apartment on short term rental, add a bathroom and kitchenette to two finished rooms in the garage and create a second short term rental, and then put a yurt in the back yard with sole access to another bathroom that'd be installed in the garage as another STR. 

Owners are less likely to move generally, and any sign of distress results in them getting a lot of mail, making it hard to stand out.As far as changing your message, it is less about keywords, and more about creating interest.

The other units can be rented out, creating cash flow for you.