I would have loved to have found this site 10 years ago, when I purchased my house... accidentally house hacking.    

Even with both sides rented you will be hard pressed to break even.

I have owned multi family in the past and accidentally sold them, a major major life regret.  

Is there any bad press?

My wife and I did an accidental live-in flip as our first deal.

As someone that accidentally got two associates degrees while making a pit stop at community college (seriously, I was just checking UC Berkeley transfer boxes with no degree in mind) on the way to university, I assure you that they hold no resume value and no one cares. 

Due to condition, they have a limited market and they are often marketed for cash only.Appraisers have been pressed hard to include foreclosures by banks and secondary markets to obtain a very conservative approach to value.

I have some "informal" mentors like Account Closed , who have been kind enough to share their knowledge through calls or emails when I have a pressing question or need some advice.

Your comparison to an accidental mistake by a maintenance worker is not the same situation as a landlord who knowingly rented out a damaged property knowing it would leak again and knowing the code violation basement would flood again.

I fall under the "Accidental Investors" when it comes to RE investments.