There is no practical reason to talk to planning and zoning before reading and understanding this chapter in its entirety because you want to convey to the town official your plan and how it fits within the planning and zoning requirements. 

That region will require some risk mitigation, and would be better suited for a local flipper specializing in those types of properties vs buy and hold OOS IMO. 

Looking to connect with folks familiar with these areas or similar.Pittsburgh is a good market with good cash flow however the buildings are older so there will be a decent amount of maintenance over time.

What does it cost for formation and ongoing maintenance?

A minimum of 480 sq. ft. of lot area is required per dwelling unit for the lot area in excess of 1,919 sq. ft.

It'd require you to rent out the property since it has to be used for business use.

All electrical work requires a permit.

You live in the property and learn how to self-manage/maintenance/lease units when tenants come and go. 

Now imagine facing a lawsuit because you missed a crucial compliance requirement.

Although a DSCR is lenient on your personal income, they will still require a relatively clean appraisal.