Some clients save thousands of dollars a year with a Solo 401k compared to a self-directed IRA.Here are a few of the Solo 401k benefits:Compared to an IRA, Solo 401k contributions limits are roughly ten times higher.There is no custodial requirement for the 401k.You can take participant loans from the plan.You don't need the additional expense and administration of an LLC to have checkbook control.There is a built in-Roth component whereas IRAs are either traditional or Roth, not both.A spouse can also participate in the same Solo 401k plan.The Solo 401k has additional tax benefits over an IRA when investing into real estate using leverage.

I say this mostly because it sounds like you are working with limited capital, so it would be wiser in my opinion to start slow, and keep some reserves instead of simply buying the most number of units you can under FHA right away.

I've done several mobile home deals in parks and in my experience, park models should be avoided. 1 bedroom homes, whether stick built or mobile, have a limited buyer pool.

Some of these will be no shows.If I have a tenant that is taking care of place I will likely show house while they are there.If they are slobs or place needs stuff like paint ot or repairs I will not advertise till I can take care of these so house will show well.I routinely use resident research.com for background checks but you Zillow offers online applications for $29 to the tenant.I turned this option on last vacancy and it worked really well.I told anyone that wanted to apply to go to Zillow and do so.

I have a similar situation as @jenpothilat 's posting, both of us living in expensive cities (Im in LA) with $540k cash to invest but I have a different goal and more limitations.  

The east side will most likely remain very cheap and poor since the huge influx of people coming in all want to live in the limited English Neighbourhoods. 

You need to do some in-depth studying regarding screening tenant applicants if you do not know who to use to screen.

That's great, but you've just done THREE things that work against you: you've eliminated yourself from the radar of many buyers, you've limited the marketing on your property, and you've positioned yourself as a TARGET -- because you know who loves FSBO listings?

To get a variance, you'll need drawings (a survey, a site plan, and architectural drawings) along with an application (that will probably require calculations) and some application fees.

But the property would never do that because of its design and limitations, so in order to make money, I'd have to either create more space/more bedrooms, or wait for the area to improve.