I'm trying to be as familiar with my target city as I am with the city I live in and I'm finding it to be a little difficult as I'm on the other side of the country in NYC. 

I have been investing in northern Alabama markets for a year now but finally made the move to live down here.

Do you want to buy an investment property for your daughter to live in while in college?

(to live then maybe sell in 5 years)   The homes are nice but the area seems to be lacking...

Anyway, several administrative things you can do (no particular order):Send appraiser before pics Provide rehab list of work doneRun your own comps and let the appraiser know where you think the value should beBe present for appraisal and show work doneGet house professionally cleaned (someone who does this for a living, not tenants). 

The city has halted all new short term rental permits, and all signs point to the fact that only the owner of the property that lives at the property will be allowed to get a short term rental permit when they resume (if they resume) issuing permits.

"B" lives in one of couples' property "P1" as a renter in order to avoid invasion from "H".

My goal to purchase a duplex, rent out one unit and live in the other.

Keep an eye on it because it demonstrates he's living on the edge and may fail to pay rent some day.I recommend you get rid of him when the lease expires.

We live in Oregon.