Advice on getting started now or waiting

[Eric C.]

Let me start by saying that the BP forum has been amazing so far.  

Now to my question/thought process.  

I am 1099, great credit, high income (9k monthly) low expenses (2k monthly) and have 75k in cash reserves and own my house outright at 140k.  Problem is I can't qualify for a conventional mortgage until after my 2017 taxes are filed because of the 2 yr requirement.  

I also am moving out of my house this week, and have secured a tenant for 900 per month, which will add to my income, as I work remotely living in my van.  

I want to eventually get a 2-4 unit to house hack in early 2018, and to acquire some buy and hold properties to rent out separately.   I could go with hard money now to get started, or buy TK and deplete my cash, but my thoughts are to just wait till after I file taxes in Feb, do a house hack, and then immediately cash-out refi on my current property that I own outright.  

Thoughts? 

I hate sitting on the fence, but I also hate to have a lower COC ROI if waiting 7-8 months would allow for substantially better leverage.