I will keep my options open and probably scale back into residential until I build my pockets some for a heftier downpayment  

However it is our experience that the large majority of rent to own buyers only care about the monthly. 

Sadly, living in Manhattan and California all my early working years and through my 20's (ridiculous rents and millennial lifestyle...) has left me with little opportunity to save, let alone save anything remotely close enough to a downpayment in areas where studios and 1 bdrms start at well over half a million dollars...This being said, I'm very interested in learning as much as I can about real estate (especially on the smaller scale - such as SFH and perhaps duplexes...).

Cash is king and as Rocky said, a large non refundable deposit might have helped.  

I can't imagine paying even over $1,000 for just one bathroom. 3 bedrooms is plenty for a small family. 4 bedrooms is a large family = LOTS of wear and tear.

A year later, a large earthquake didn't damage my house, but it made me realize I might lose everything if one did.

That's an example but something in the middle ground that works for both of you.I'm a bit non-plussed with some of the large multi-family syndicators who like to talk about how they can force rents up for lower income people and in almost the same breath talk about how they help the same people with their charity...I think, like everything else there is a productive middle-ground where you can earn good returns and not force people into bad situations.

I bit usual layout as its set back from the street with its own access lane and backs to a large apartment building and has taller wood fencing, but the owner has lived there for 12 years and is 73 now and tired of playing landlord with his neighbors/tenants - he has the usual tenant adventures going on right now, such as an eviction and probably isn't a thorough tenant screener. 

So much so that the residents are showing up in large numbers to try and slow the expansion.

I have a few issues that I am getting large differences of opinions on.