House hacking a duplex is a solid way to get started in real estate while keeping your living costs low.

I do direct booking through the Houfy website, taking credit card payment by Square. 

Most people I know start with low money down programs so they can get away with a initial capital investment of around $25k but you also need reserves.  

Weigh the long-term benefits of the low mortgage rate you have versus selling and getting $500k from a sale exempt from capital gains tax.

A couple developers we work with skip LIHTC and the tax credits and go the route of impact funds to help alongside other debt and sometimes equity. 

Prices remain relatively low, but appreciation may be slower.Monroe: A mix of cash flow and appreciation potential, Monroe has become a popular choice for investors, especially in areas where new developments are popping up.Appreciation-Focused NeighborhoodsBallantyne: A well-established area with high demand, Ballantyne offers excellent long-term appreciation potential, though cash flow opportunities may be limited.South End: A booming urban hub with a vibrant retail and restaurant scene.

This seems unrealistically low for a 40 unit property.

Prices a few years ago were based on expectations of (in addition to interest rates staying low): - Then current operating cost assumptions (like insurance cost expectations being flat)- A seeming disregard for record levels of new inventory / supply hitting the market- Extremely high inbound migration expectations which are likely to not be met, due to both natural disasters and the boomerang effect when people from California or the Northeast move to the American South and hate every minute of the humidity, the large and relentless swarm of insects, and the occasional hurricane. 

It's interesting because of the low start up capital and potential for higher returns.

I make sure I screen each potential tenant thoroughly (background and credit checks) and require references.