Whether you live in the same building, next door, or two states away, it is important to set boundaries with your tenants.

-Homes that aren't falling apart/need major rehab on the property-Prices in six figures overall not seven figuresWhat 2-3 cities should I really pinpoint in terms of the Zillow map to get an idea of some great options?

We like single family, apartment, multi-family type investments.

Ultimately the goal is to build a great, creative relationship with the right lender whose in my corner and I can trust.

I know that there are so many (and more effective) ways in which real estate builds wealth rather than just cashflow but still simply trying to wrap my head around the best way to start building my portfolio. 

Also, have plans in the building department to add another unit over the garage.Good Luck!

If so you definitely  need one.If you or most all of your competition doesn't have one then it's not necessary but it may help set you apart from the competition if you need to increase your occupancy or nightly rate.

Is there any tax strategy that can be used to depreciate the actual cost of the building itself if not used by us for our LLP's business?

Otherwise, the costs of building pre-fab vs. stick seem to be pretty similar.

When its a small apartment in a complex I say no.