The nature of this rental is such that in economic slow times (like Covid has caused) people are traveling much less for business.

The human brain is actually quite good at solving this problem naturally.

We are a couple - enjoy nature, going out to eat/drink maybe once or twice a month.As of now, I plan to do a 30 year FHA owner occupied - after 1 year I will move out so all units will be rented out and I should be cashflow positive around $500 or so.

@Benjamin SussmanJust be mindful that your bookkeeping will not be as simple since you are househacking.You will have payments that are personal in nature - non-deductibleYou will have payments that are business in nature - fully deductibleYou will have payments that are personal and business - partially deductibleIf you are keeping the books to use for your tax return, you may just need to have a proper setup with instructions on how to properly categorize items.

When I'm not being Army or working my W2, I'm exploring nature.

That’s the nature of the business.

if possible i would do natural gas its fairly cheap. but please do not put electric base boards. your tenants may want to find out where you live and rob you. i just took the ones i had in a unit out. tenant was on old lease from previous owner. my first bill was 500$. for more information it is a 2 bedroom second floor newer windows and about 950 sq.ft. 

Or better to wait and redo units as they naturally open up? 

Have a great investing mindset, enjoy all aspects of construction, and am very much a natural handy-man. 

Natural wood trim & baseboards hand stained and sanded throughout.