Any thoughts from your dad about how to verify the issue is resolved? 

I tried to do a deed in lieu with the bank because of the initial issues I had with their mortgage officer of being unethical.

I'll verify her income, but I think that will be fine.

Initially, you will likely be required to sign a personal guarantee as well.

I have a Google Form that I'm using for initial screenings that ask four of our biggest questions (smoking, income, etc.) but I'm not sure where to go from there.

Second, my initial contact with roofstock account executive lead me to believe I'm only responsible for the @ turn capex

We have to wait for that newly published book's income to appear on tax returns, but by that time the initial rush of book sales will be over, and YTD will be less than historic (and, thus YTD will be used), unless you're constantly putting new books out, hurting your calculated income.

Anyway, it's low initial investment, you get to live for free, your tenants are literally buying you a duplex/ triplex/ quadplex by paying down your loan, you are able to write off the deprecation of the property from your income+ other tax advantages, you can potentially be cash-flowing on top of living free from day one (if not you will down the line if you move out and rent your unit) and you will potentially see appreciation based solely on inflation or market trends depending on the specific location of the property or you can force appreciation by fixing up the property.

Considering the high median home price in LA county, I initially took steps towards getting my real estate salesperson license to capitalize.

I am a new investor in the Western MA area and am looking at multiple areas including Holyoke for a residential multifam to house hack as an initial investment property and keep as a rental down the road.