Affordability is therefore a better metric IMO as it combines median price, median income, and interest rates rolled into one.

As for comps, I use a combination of Zillow, Trulia, Redfin, Realtor, and the median sales for the zip.

Residential lending is up to 4 units. rarely, less than 1% of the time, do residential loan officers do both types of transactions. 5+ units is commercial. 1-4 units is residential. 

Hi Amit Kal Being a longtime lurker and rare poster, I guess you could say the story was pent up.

I cannot see the HOA, Ins & utilities adding up to 900 a mo combined, but am waiting on this info as we speak.

If I'm reading that correctly they have combined 65K+ of PAST DUE debt?  

Of course $10K properties in Baltimore are not exactly rare.

There is always risk associated with a rental property but since you will be living in one side and renting the other the potential increase in cost would be whatever your combined mortgages are minus what you have been paying for your current place.We did a similar deal in Kansas.

I realize my situation is a rare one and I have some obstacles but I'm determined to find a way through.  

Very rare that the carpet cleaning would cause mold.