I buy homes as a primary residence with 5% down and move into them keeping my previous as a rental and the area that I live doesn't have new builds that would work for us, otherwise I would buy a new build. 

Please keep those posts in the Classifieds forum.Need a spreadsheet or form?

I have a city rowhouse with a 20' sidewalk and 5' wide steps with 9 treads and two 7'x7' landings. It's a 4 family, I just don't want that kind of transactional relationship with any tenants. At another property with ...

That may keep things cleaner for everyone. 

Each has its pros and cons, but starting with House Hacking can be a great way to ease into real estate while keeping your living expenses low—perfect for someone just starting their career.Here are a few suggestions to get started:Education: Books like Set for Life by Scott Trench (sounds like you’re familiar with him!)

Keep grinding it out my friend. 

Remember, confidence grows with each step, so take action and keep moving forward!

Keep in mind rents also went up and opportunities to refinance were also available - elevating that figure. 

Given you and your investor both have experience in different areas, I’d say keep a flexible approach and compare city requirements before putting too much money down.

Keep learning and determine your long term goals.