Recognize her viewpoint on homeownership and investigate possible accommodations or different approaches that satisfy her need for a family home as well as your goals of financial freedom.Examine if investing in rental properties while temporarily renting your primary property is in line with your financial and lifestyle goals.Education and Preparation: Invest some time in learning about property management, tenant relations, and real estate investing.

Back in our Day 70s 80s .. our normal spread was 4 to 6X of what we paid for it so we could afford a healthy discount and still double our money cash on cash.I still fund land flippers to this day and really enjoy it.. bought one today and got paid off on one today :)  And in a way if you really know what your doing beats buying beat up houses for many folks.

I've been able to get a healthy combination of both cashflow and appreciation from all my properties after a little TLC.

I have a healthy income and have built a solid financial base for my age.

All of our properties cash flow well and it doesn't make financial sense to sell them but we want a lifestyle change.

The question of whether owning a primary home is a sound investment, if you ignore lifestyle issues, can be true.

According to Jamie and his team, the STR market is healthy, strong, and sustainable at this point.As an owner of STRs and advisor to clients who are also owners, this was a refreshing listen on BP. 

If you want to build your own team you can and will save some money, but some people's work and lifestyle etc mean they cannot effectively. 

You are aware of the local communities, employment marketplaces, and prospective growth regions.Equity Building: In a market like San Diego where real estate values have traditionally increased, house hacking may be a potent means of accumulating equity.Long-Term Considerations: House hacking locally could fit into your lifestyle if you intend to live in San Diego long-term and have family concerns.You might also explore a hybrid approach – investing locally in a house hack while allocating some capital to out-of-state investments for diversification.Remember to consult with real estate professionals, conduct due diligence, and possibly network with investors in both local and out-of-state markets.

It's way more work and long-term (over 30 years) you're actual return from RE vs stocks won't be much more unless you're constantly selling and optimizing your RE portfolio and giving up your free time and your lifestyle in the process