The right deal may be an off market deal.

This could be an excellent source of income that you could use for future properties. 

Also, I expect you to be there to greet me each morning with a hot cup of coffee and a Britts donut. 

Cash-flow isin't everything if you are expecting this property to be an appreciation play.best of luck

If you want to be an investor then pick a market and get going buying properties. 

More jobs bring more restaurants, breweries, coffee shops (albeit we have two close by).

YUP thats the solution and in GA most houses are post and beam so that should not be an issue finding the sewer outletI think the seller may have some issues now that this potential buyer opened up pandora's box by notifying the health department and building department.. really depends on how aggressive those departments are .. in some areas this would be a major issue some probably could give a rip. 

This will be an owner occupied unit with the rest of the rooms on the top floors individually rented out.

You’re absolutely on the right track, happy to grab coffee or a beer and talk through house hacking - pumped for you to start your house hacking journey!

PM me and we can meet up some time to talk about strategy over some coffee.!