If nothing else, they may be able to at least answer the question of what to do regarding panel access for your upper unit.

@Shaun Beck we do a lot of leasing and will likely lease up 80-100 units this year as a company.

I’m targeting mid-level rentals as investments (buildings that rent for $1500-$2000) / unit.

Yes you would certainly need to close off the upstairs from the downstairs preferrably with a wall, placed in an area that you can easily take down later down the road when you sell, not to say that you couldn't sell it as a 2 unit but it would be nice for you to keep that option later down the road. 

Due to this, on one property only one of the two units have been rehabbed.  

When I imagine how I'd start out, naturally, I am thinking about acquiring a local property - probably a single family home because the multi-family units are out of my price range (for now). 

I live here and my portfolio is definitely more LTR but I do own several airbnb units here too.

For my units, the main issue is whether I need to re-paint and/or replace the carpet. 

Looking at a current listing in Austin (MLS number 5473496), this is 3503 E 17th St, Unit B4.

I would probably start with a 4 unit property using a DSCR loan, which will still be based on the property rents and not your personal income.