an HVAC contractor bid and tried to price two single units (at twice the installation cost of one)    The way I am going to set up mine with a single outside unit with two interior units (dual zone)

Focus more on learning how to read people and communicate well.

@Steve Vaughan When you're communicating with sellers, how do you "break the news" that you're an investor and an owner-occupant?

I made my first offer on a house I can barely afford as a primary resident (3bd, 1.5ba close to Tufts University), I am glad the owners went with another offer, I would of paid close to 2.5k a month in "rent" for a single room assuming I rented out the other rooms at a near optimal price.

-Would you buy 1 single family home ? 

Hello, I've recently rented out one of my properties to a single family.

My partners and I have 75 units in Birmingham and several single family properties in the Huntsville MSA.

But I would think that either a family would take the apartment (husband wife and two children) or college students and single professionals willing to roommate with each other.

You depreciate up to your basis regardless of your entity type.If you are a single member LLC, then literally nothing changes on your tax return. 

Communicate your intentions and your process up front.