He took a 401(k) loan to fund the down payment on a four-unit building in a rapidly appreciating neighborhood.

I have tons of my units leased by people who do airbnb.  

If one or more units are vacant, the remaining units often don’t provide enough cash flow to cover expenses, making it harder to meet operating costs.Maintenance costs: A fourplex comes with four times the appliances, plumbing, HVAC systems, and other components to maintain, leading to significantly higher repair and maintenance expenses than single-family homes.If you want to see the detailed calculation, read this BP blog - More Units Doesn’t Mean More Money—Why a Single-Family Home Can Beat a Fourplex.Resale value: Multi-family properties have a limited buyer pool—mainly investors—who base their offers on CAP rates.

Other than the miscommunicated eviction, they have actually been very accomodating through the process and the issues with this one unit get resolved, then I would have nothing but positive things to say about the purchase.

Sure, they may be able to grow to a very moderate size,  add a few units, or trade up to a larger investment, but as for real scalability: NO.Why?  

I was trying to figure out how to raise capital so that I could build to rent a 50-75 apartment unit in the next 5 years.

@Joseph Beilke, @Michael Baum, @Mike Lambert, and @Ian Fortney, First off, I'd like to say that investing in the United States in general creates a better return than in Costa Rica.  

I have bought a couple of units and now working on my own development.

I currently own a 4-unit in Allentown which has done quite well for me and looking to expand my portfolio throughout LVH.

Converting SpacesConverting unused spaces like garages or basements into living areas, home offices, or rental units (such as an ADU – Accessory Dwelling Unit) can significantly boost the value of a property.11.