New Investor Looking to House Hack in North Jersey

[Wesley Howell]

Hello, my name is Wes. I'm a 24 year old mechanical engineer, and I am a looking to start investing in my first real estate property. I want to house hack a 3/4 plex using a FHA loan in Northern Jersey. I'm currently looking around the Paterson, NJ area.

1) I am looking for guidance on the best way to find a quality deal/a reliable real estate agent to advise me with my search.

2) Since this is my first property I have never acquired a loan for purchasing property. Should I find a lender that is willing to work with me and then find the property, or should I find the property I am interested in and then work to find the lender?

Any additional advice that will help me with this endeavor is welcome.