One of my favorite lines is on a rap song which sums it perfectly “men lie women lie, numbers don’t”.

Also just for my FYI why do people forgo the permits?

Pair this with the fact 47% of millennials have a post secondary degree, compared to 30% in 1990 kinda throws a wrench in the idea that student debt is part of the problem)This means that at best millennials will be delaying home ownership, not forgoing it.

Maybe a good flip opportunity if you forgo the rental idea!

Will probably forgo the personal loan/ credit card.

Hey Zak,Kudos to you for going into this with your eyes open.Your not just looking at the tip of the iceberg which is the part where the only work you do is cashing your passive income checks.It does seem like a good idea to start with house hacking as Nick advises.This way you can add some practical experience at minimal risk to the excellent research you've already been doing.Wishing you all the best!

@Ron Gallagher An old Judy Garland song. 

I apologize for going black on comms since last posting...I have been busy moving into my new primary home and prepping the old house every night for the new tenants who just moved in. 

The HOA fees cover these.This has been tested many times before, a mentor of mine who has been a landlord there for going on 4 decades that having a property management is not cost-effective and generally a bad idea - in that particular location.I don't like the idea of giving up $3,000-$5000 per year, per property, to do less than $500 worth of work.These aren't the typical high management intensive single family homes in the Midwest.As I was saying before, why would the time difference be such a big issue?

In the future I will forgo a little profit to buy in a clean, safe neighborhood where vacancies are easier to fill.