Find Brandon's videos on YouTube for the "four square" method of analyzing homes and practice.

I could come up with a down payment for an investment property in a different state easier than my home state at prices are pretty high in the 300-400 k just for townhomes.

Which size of home is typically perform best on a cost benefit analysis?

When a home has big maintenance needs, it probably has a lot of little maintenance needs.

I'd recommend staying within 10-15% of the median priced home because that's where the most demand will be not only for renters but owner occupants as well. 

I have a followup question - I will realize a lot of capital gain from this home in Idaho, so I think unless I purchase a new primary residence I will have to pay that capital gains tax. 

Whether that collateral is a home, or car, or anything else of value that was pledged against the loan. 

Sometimes using some contractors for one project will be good and then switching to another contractor for another project is typical because each scope of work is different. 

I plan to purchase a primary residence, multi-family home (2-5 units, 'house-hack'). 

Last August a decent pre-foreclosure opportunity came available on the MLS and my agent took us to see the home and submitted two offers below asking that were too low for the seller at the time.Apparently the seller was able to avoid foreclosure and the home delisted after it didn’t sale.