Readers should seek professional advice.

Quote from @Emmanuel Rugamba: Hi everyone I am 26 year old professional athlete looking to buy his first home but also house hack in the process.

Not gonna give address's here because not trying to market them here, just pointing out reality that when your a 24-7 professional "hunter", you tend to know where the deer are all but on demand. 

There are several different types of income in the US tax code.Two main types are “active income” and “passive income".Active income is money you earn from working, such as wages from a W-2 job or income from running a business.Passive income is money you earn from investments like real estate, stocks, or rental income from your RE portfolio where you earn $ without actively working.Normally, you can't use passive losses (like losses from real estate investments) to offset active income like your salary from a W-2 job.That is unless you are an RE Pro.The reality is, that Real Estate Pro status is just a filing status similar to filing married or jointly.And if you are a real estate professional you CAN use passive real estate losses to offset active income from other sources.To qualify as an RE Pro you must:1.

As we seek to grow as professional investors we are sincerely interested in building our network. 

It’s great to see your enthusiasm, and you’re in the right place—this community is full of knowledgeable and supportive investors, professionals, and entrepreneurs.

A good agent should welcome due diligence, not discourage it.Ask for references, any legitimate professional should be happy to provide them.

Title work Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

I am experiencing the same issue and I have professional photos, using a reputable real estate broker, and in a very rental friendly market.

I attended local meet-ups, joined real estate associations, and even reached out to experienced professionals in my area.