Living in is a stress factor but if you don't mind some chaos and a little mess it's great. 

@Mark Walker EM is just 1 of the terms of you're LOI/PA, and thus exactly what one peg's it at all depends on a multitude of factor's. 

I'm keen to understand if there are any factors or considerations that I may be overlooking which could be contributing to the difficulty in finding suitable renters.

I live in Illinois, if that factors into any decision on what my initial strategy should be. 

i cover pest control and lawn care on my stuff. keeps down on issues and i know the place looks good. for my student rentals i also build in a quarterly cleaning fee where my cleaning lady comes through and does a deep clean. extra eyes on stuff and parents happily pay it to ensure their kids have a solid spot. pass through cost for me and well worth it. 

If you can take on another job or work more hours to build up some savings you can get a primary residence with little to no down payment if you can find the programs in your area. 

It depends on various factors, including your experience, market knowledge, financial situation, and the specifics of the property and location.

Here’s why:Transparency: Being upfront builds trust.

@Simmy Ahluwalia I'm a builder in Atlanta and I'm starting to delve into the spec build market.

I get it, build a team, hire professionals, blah blah.