Appraisals will typically look at transaction with a 1/2 mile radius and within last 6 months.  

As the other commentators have mentioned, you and your lender are going to need ample time to simultaneously review each transaction carefully.

Rent was being paid and I still had to painstakingly keep track of the transactions, which sometimes made no sense or didn't add up.  

The key for most land transactions is can it be developable and appealing in terms of locations.

And is this Pittsburgh proper, or the near 'burbs, or are you talking about some place out in deer-crossing country in Washington County or up in Beaver? 

We still unfortunately have some student loans (fingers crossed for PSLF for mine) and have one car payment (put down $10k).

We still unfortunately have some student loans (fingers crossed for PSLF for mine) and have one car payment (put down $10k).

(Sorry for all the M's in the title)Fellow BP-ers,An OM crossed my desk which seemed promising, a 9 unit multifamily which had decent cashflow and the numbers would work at a slightly lower offering price. 

If you're curious about what you currently qualify for or what you need to do to get there I have some great multifamily lender connections I can pass along.I work in commercial real estate (specialize in multifamily but this crosses over into NNN sometimes) I just delivered a Jiffy Lube to a client a few months ago for "mailbox money."

Unlike some other Asheville border communities, I think your equity will grow slower due to comparatively higher crime rates, higher poverty rates, the paper plant, etc.