Starting out I would buy the nicest 4 family that I could afford in an area that I wanted to live in.

Disclaimer -- I'm paying debt off right now deferring an emergency fund and relying on a contract job that could go away tomorrow; however, my wife makes enough that we can afford our three properties if I'm not working.  

I do understand that the interest rate is typically lower for a 15 year mortgage, but if you can afford the note on the 15 year mortgage, you will actually pay the debt off faster by financing it on a 30 year amortization schedule because each payment would be an overpayment due to the lower monthly payment requirement for a 30 year mortgage.  

I am in process of buying a condo to help my kid who is unable to afford rent about 2000 per month and she would need for 4 years .

San Diego is an amazing place to live.That being said, it's a pretty terrible place to invest in buy and hold single family if you're looking for cashflow.The people who do buy and hold SFRs in San Diego fall under a few categories in my book:- People who bought back long ago or during the crisis and are able to maintain good rental cashflow- People who are speculating on appreciation and can afford to eat the risk and negative cashflow- People who can't do math

At a purchase price of $150,000 and 30% down, assuming 3% rent growth per year, 5% vacancy, 5% credit loss, and your total opex at 50% on a 30 year loan at 5%, factoring in your taxes and P&I, you will have positive NOI, but you won't be able to afford your debt payments. 

For the sake of health, sanitation, the well-being of other tenants, and risk of fire I have never allowed smoking. 

Today, USDA has taken over much of that niche, leaving the affordable housing market with FHA.Mortgages were traded and secured by bonds partly out of the Securities & Exchange Act in '39, the formation of banking reform under Roosevelt.

Agree with everyone, if you can afford it, maybe add a nice porch light fixture above the door.  

Contact , zoning as far as vehicles , animal control , the health dept .