Despite this, every analysis I’ve done shows not only negative cash flow while living in the property (which I expected) but also significant negative cash flow even after moving out and renting all the units.

I’m assuming most of you are going to say BP for deal analysis calculator, but curious what you are using to easily find comps for ARVs, etc. 

@Josh FugleI'm certainly bias, but I agree w/ Bill Brandt's general analysis.

I’m totally new to REI, learning some specifics including deal analysis. 

What would you recommend for people in the early stages?

This might reduce your overall interest costs and allow you to secure a more attractive rate compared to a traditional 20% down payment scenario.Platforms for State → City → Suburb → Street Analysis:For narrowing down markets, here are some platforms I recommend:Zillow and Realtor.com for broad market data, filtering by city/suburb/street.Roofstock for turnkey rental properties with in-depth neighborhood analysis.Mashvisor for detailed real estate analysis, including cash flow and rental estimates.Redfin and NeighborhoodScout for granular street-level data, crime statistics, school ratings, and property value trends.Once you narrow down to the city level, I agree that leveraging local resources—real estate agents, local investor networks, or property managers—will be key to gaining more granular insights on specific neighborhoods and streets.If you’d like, I can also provide you with a sample DSCR terms sheet to further illustrate potential terms.

However dependent upon taxable income you could get away with a pretty low tax bill due to favorable capital gains tax rates.Be sure to work with a qualified intermediary and a tax professional to ensure you comply with all 1031 exchange regulations and to be sure you keep basis correct as all a 1031 does is defer your gain.Happy to help run some numbers or do some basic analysis for you if you would like. 

Recently, I started using CMA (Comparative Market Analysis) to get comps.For those of you who are familiar with CMAs, do you have any pointers on how to best use them?

A 2 stage is like a pitcher with a fast ball and change up.

Most PM software won't be worth the cost at this point depending on your budget.At this stage, a good ole Excel/Google Sheet will do for keeping up with your income/expenses.