You will be able to identify problems before they happen to help limit the expense of fixing them. 

It seems like STVRs could be a solid means of establishing financial freedom within a couple of years, perhaps more quickly than other types of real estate investment (when funds are limited initially).

Sure there is limited/no appreciation, but I believe passive income was what the OP was after ?

My experience, personally, is limited, but where I owned a duplex, there are others in the market to use as comps.

Not only are they a bound fiduciary, but they actively search an ever-changing inventory whereas a car salesman wants squeeze out as much as they can from their lot of a limited number same "cookie-cutter" cars.

Often, utilities are bundled when they're provided by the municipality (commonly water, sewer and garbage are municipal owned utilities) in which case you will have a monthly trash bill whether you're using it or not.

What are the occupancy limits for unrelated adults in your cityA lot of people house hacking in Denver and Colorado Springs, the markets where we work, have discovered that the answers to those questions don't matter too much.

We know it could unlock our ability to buy a lot more properties, a lot sooner, and with greater ease, because we could completely avoid the limitations and lending criteria of banks.But we also tend to believe that Seller Financing is rare and hard to find (especially in a competitive Seller’s market), or that it’s difficult to negotiate even if you can find it.That may just be a limiting belief, however.

Municipalities don't look as favorably on small multifamily and generally neighbors to the property are more resistant to it.

If you like to start sooner but will be leaving the country, then you should consider being a Limited partner in syndication.