THINK TWICE before you opt for a STR business  model.

Since I know very little about RE Investing I have been consuming as much information from BP as I can.

I guess I should have introduced myself in the newbie forum but I've been so eagerly busy consuming and soaking all the knowledge this incredible network has to offer!

Thanks to consumer protection laws following the 2008 housing crash, I can't think of a single private/hard money lender I know who will make a loan on an owner-occupied house.It all depends on how much equity there is in the deal.

The owner's ex might convince a judge that she has some equity in the place, which would make an eviction or foreclosure very difficult, time-consuming and expensive. 

If it is primarily 'consumers' buying primary residences, getting the tenant out would probably be your best bet.With that said, you are limited by whatever rental agreement you currently have in place with the existing tenant.

My wife and I moved to Albany in 2015, and, as a hedge against extended Union strikes (I'm in telecom by trade), opted to purchase a 4-unit to live in instead of a single-family home.  

If your bank offers a business account with low/no fees, then you can opt for that as well.  

. - Have folks out there found that there is increased consumer awareness around efficiency? 

It's a kind of mindless "checklist" way of underwriting loans, and if your score is 1 point below the minimum it's denied and 1 point above is approved.If you know that you will be selling or refinancing with 3 - 5 years, then a more flexible "Alt" loan through a bank that combines a fixed period that converts to an adjustable rate is more flexible with regard to income and credit.Credit problems can be explained as a "one time set of circumstances that do not reflect ongoing consumer behavior."