This idea that everything goes up in price is completely fictional.

Real estate investing has been a passion of mine for time with my mother also having invested early on where I likely have gotten the love and desire to follow similar foot steps.I have taken last 6 months to educate myself and currently own a single family home as primary residence and would like to expand to multi family properties (2-4 units) for additional stream of income, not to mention potential tax benefits for long-term investing.Based on current living situation, I have a fair amount of equity established in my primary residency along with having enough cash to either pay off house completely or use towards investing in a multi family property.Given that I'm the sole source of income for our household with my wife being the home maker for our two kids under 2, trying to weigh out risks with getting started now or perhaps waiting. 

I am completely new to the investing side and would love to find something to meet new people/learn as well as learn more about the city. 

At least plan B does not sound a complete bad idea now.Thank you!

It is also a bad sign that this was requested 8 YEARS ago and still not completed.

The higher rates and no point options hopefully are temporary for you until you are able to show a 2 year history of 1099 income, refinance early in 2026 once you have completed your 2025 returns. 

If you choose to go with this strategy you could complete your exchange and immediately do a cash out refi.

Quote from @Lamier Guzman: @Jaycee Greene I was thinking Hampton or Virginia Beach, leaning more into Hampton honestly for the duplex's but after my military contract and my 1 year of residing in the duplex is complete I plan on renting both units and moving to Florida or Texas to purchase SFH's and BRRRR them.

But cash that is yours is completely under your control.

Those particles might not be washing down completely.