The house is 1100 square feet as it stands but the attic is large enough to be converted to living space which would add 200 square feet to “living space” it also a business zoned lot and also has a small building near the road that was built in the 50s and was used as an accountants office.

I suppose my goals are to buy investment properties, and eventually my student loan of course.

I will most likely end up sending a letter then eventually introduce myself in person when we get ready to do some of the bigger upgrades.Thank you for your advice!

That’s a definite plus for resale, renting, and for you personally if you live there eventually.

Or it may be that they were just too lazy to convert it and there's some money to be made. 

My hopes for real estate investing are to eventually (years from now) secure a semi-passive income stream that requires minimal hands on management. 

Lists are worthless unless you can convert.

Or is the main  argument for MFs over SFs that an investor can gain experience with say a quad and then move on to a >4 unit apartment complex - so potential grow really big eventually?

My dad told me about Avery Carl and since listing to all her podcast and interviews I would like to take a similar approach to short term rentals, to lead me eventually into multi-family.

I am looking into future, as eventually I'll form an investing company with different fund (LLCs) under it.