Overwhelmed Newbie Investor - Kansas City

[Alex Eickhoff]

Hey everyone!  Wannabe investor in Kansas City area. First post.

I’ve been wanting to house hack for a solid 5 years and still haven’t pulled the trigger. Seems every week I change my mind about which strategy I want to pursue, so I’m hoping to get some reassurance.  My thoughts:

I have a modest savings that could be used for a down payment (about $30k) but I’m also a self employed artist, who benefits from having a stash of cash for peace of mind (income is irregular, some months are <$1000, others can be 5 figures).  So do I get into a turnkey multi, with a low down payment and take on a higher debt, or do I put more money down on a cheaper/light fixer upper to have a lower monthly payment? Maybe even a single family with detached garage to convert into a studio flat for short term rental? Do I invest in an up and coming area that is more affordable, or do I go to a desirable area to have better immediate cash flow? 

Obviously I’m all over the map lol.

 I’m an artist so my location is somewhat flexible, as I travel all over the country painting murals. But I also require studio space, which I prefer to have in house so I’m not paying for mortgage and rent for separate space. My girlfriend lives with me and has a steady nanny job, but only has a small cash savings to assist with any down payment or reno cost. 

Any advice helps. Just trying to get off Zillow and get into the game somehow. 

-eye cough