@Dhru DasI am not heavily focused on MFR, however, that said, I purchased a duplex and a four-plex in 2015 for a JV that I was involved in. 

Title report I have access to shows it's a duplex but everyone involved is telling me its a Tri.

Granted there can be something I miss but I am willing to take the risk in investing in a MFH.

Usually when a seller wants to sell he wants to SELL and won't entertain efforts involved for a lease purchase.

Much less risk than giving up a full time income for uncertain commissions.  

The mortgagee is also putting pressure on the owner to sell.With no tenant upstairs, and that I have a transferable (if it sells) lease on the building for $1,000 / month for the next four years, I'm struggling to find a deal that works for me and the others.That said, the building is in need of some serious repairs which puts my business in some risk.

Too much risk of abuse by tenants.

Looks like my next steps are to get involved with REIN and to keep reading up.

Then offer, if they have any other needs in their business, that you're really hungry to get involved and to learn the business, so if they needed help answering phones, cleaning toilets or whatever, that you'd love an opportunity to work with them and help out. 7.

Take this all with a grain of salt, but to me when the conversation involves house hacking in an expensive metro area like NYC/NJ the bigger picture is more important than the immediate short term cash flow.