If you find a building that is outdated, it will be priced accordingly and is a great opportunity to updated it and add value-when updating though keep in mind you are not living in it and not to go over the top. 

Welcome to my weekly article, which I dub 'A Skeptical Dude’s Take on Real Estate,' coming at you live from Nashville, TN.

The kind with low money down but you have to live there?

What I would suggest alternatively is putting a clause in the lease that anyone above the age of 18 that's going to be living in the unit for more than 7 days has to be approved by the landlord and pass credit/background/income check etc. 

If you're new to this game, try to buy rentals, live in 1 unit and rent out other rooms/ units and manage the house well to just understand how to manage a real estate investment and what costs it takes.

A lot of houses have no windows on the South side and that is for a reason.You didn't say where you live but unless it's the far north, I would pick house #1. 200 extra SF is nice too.....If there is not enough sunlight down the road and it bothers you, you can always add a window on the front, or even easier, put in a Solatube in a central location.

My 40 year old lives in house.  

Allow me to introduce myself – I'm Lane Klastow and live in Phoenix, AZ, and I'm diving headfirst into the thrilling world of real estate investing.

Second, commissions are set at approximately 5-6% because that's what it takes for an agent to earn a living.

I have a 3 party who I have used since day one $45.00 to do background  so far so good couple bumps nothing too big .Last place they lived is BIG make sure you don't skip any thing that should be done .When they are serous take a picture of the DL of all folks on the rental just like a apartment would do .