Understand the fees involved and calculate the total cost for an entire year of management so you can compare the different managers.

Lastly, if you want to be involved as little as possible, consider hiring property management and bookkeeping.

I live in the Pacific Northwest, I'm a bit priced out of the market, I'm attracted to buying a duplex or fourplex in some state in the Southwest or Southeast where I can better afford to buy, I would like to move there and live in one of the units, but it seems like an overwhelming project to decide where to buy it seems there are a lot of factors involved and it's difficult for me to come to a decision.

The information below was provided by a Loan Officer for my Closing Cost as the Buyer/Borrower and Title Company for the Seller's Closing Cost.Loan Information$185,000 = Loan Amount$9,250 = Conventional Loan Down Payment (5%)$4,980 = Estimated Closing Cost: (Processing Fees, Underwriting Fees, Appraisal, Appraisal Review Fee, Title Insurance Services, Settlement Fee, Administrative Fee, Courier Fee, Owner's Title Insurance, Lender's Title Insurance, Recording Fees, City/County/Stamps, & State Tax/Stamps)$2,120 = Estimated Prepaid/ Estimated Reserve Cost: (Daily Interest, Home Insurance, & Property Taxes)$16,350 = Total Cash at Closing from Borrower$1,000 = Estimated Monthly Mortgage Payment: (P&I, Hazard & Mortgage Insurance, & Real Estate Taxes)Seller Closing Cost$0 = Agents Commissions: (No REA involved in this transaction per Seller's request)$900 = Total Cash at Closing from Seller: (Estimated Doc.

This will help you start to see how these criteria impact what your site can actually support, so when you actually pursue a project site and you get an engineer involved you aren't surprised by what he tells you can be designed for that property. 

You going to have to get a lawyer involved? 

I highly recommend involving the seller to make the deal work.

Why do you need him involved?

This is a fairly complicated process that will involve an intermediary to guide you through the process.

@Mike Swanson - You'll possibly have to get an architect involved depending on the exact violations.