I intend to invest in Columbus, OH, specifically within the University area.My main focus is pursuing a VA Home Loan "House Hack" in a smaller-sized duplex (2-5 br per side).

If you get them sized correctly with enough BTU’s, there’s no reason why they couldn’t solely beat the entire space.

what size of properties are you looking at? 

Sellers will find it difficult to find a buyer willing to pay enough to turn a profit under these falling price markets, and units will probably sit on the market for sale for longer durations with the current owners simply choosing to ride it out and keep renting the units for a few years until the market recovers.The good news is that if you believe interest rates will drop in the medium term, then you can take advantage of home prices that are dropping and buy more units, and then refinance in a year or two after rates have dropped. 

I addressed it...As I pointed out, I didn't live 80 years ago, so I have no idea what the social stigma of welfare was.Let me also point out that you didn't live 80 years ago either, so you are either relying on the memories of people who are very old, the perceptions of media and culture, or the romanticized beliefs you've gained through some experience or medium.

Guess that depends on if you are the one receiving the check.Overall I believe it to be good in the short to medium term bad long term.

I particularly like the U.S. census bureau data because it covers most of the things that I like to look at when evaluating markets, such as population growth, median household income, total market size, etc.The methodology is trickier.

I made on offer on a couple houses where each house had almost exact comps (age, size, type, etc) and even on the same street (as well as other supporting comps within 1/2 mile) that were sold for $40K below the listing price of my properties.

Your mom's plan sounds reasonable to me - it is a low-cost way to pay your dad what is due to him.If you think your mom does not need such a large house, she may wish to consider down-sizing to a smaller home.

Mike,Finding a new market is a "long/medium term" objective.