I've checked out the property, one unit has a tenant with a 1year lease, and I plan to occupy the other side.

I also would not lease a car like this. 

If the agent never signed the agreement then the lease was never fully executed.

Obviously Lacy Lakeview isn't exactly booming but there is industry in the area (not counting L3 and I'm not really wanting to lease to TSTC students unless they have a family) but I have the opportunity to invest in some homes there.

Given the spring timing, consider just not renewing the leases and starting fresh.

The lease expires on July 31st.

If you are going to live in the property, I would just suggest that you follow the terms of your leases exactly and rather than tell tenants you are the owner, just introduce yourself as the property manager.   

The upper unit tenant has 4 cats and smells quite bad, so I've asked my realtor to check on their lease so that I know how I could proceed with removing the tenant so that I can do a rehab.   

If they don't want to go through the procedures to apply that I have made then they won't abide by the procedures and rules I have in the Lease agreement.

In addition, of course to location (proximlty to all the attractions), size, age, service, amenities ..In October 2016, I used my HELOC to buy a long term rental property in Palm Bay, FL which is currently leased out (yearly) starting March 2017 (and renewed last month).