Happy to chat more about my experiences if you'd like. 

@Michael Beirne chat with @Russell Brazil before doing anything!

Congrats on wanting to get started!

Hey Helena, I know we've already chatted but you should check out this BP thread about us:https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/311/topics/1184140-plan...

Let me know if you'd like to chat.

also, happy to chat vendors, contractors, any other suggestions, etc. with you and be a resource anyway I can!

Does anyone have any advice for people starting out in this competitive field?

@Anthony MillerYour property management experience is a major advantage as you start investing, giving you a head start with tenant screening, lease agreements, and maintenance coordination.

Would love to chat!

If it's not feasible due to circumstances I suppose I'll have to adjust my situation (find weekend job, move back to NJ with parents, move to a different state with, etc.)All responses are appreciated, and I am absolutely open to chatting on the phone by the way.My view on house hacking is it can be a great tool to buy a house you could not  otherwise afford, but it shouldn’t be a goal in it of itself if that makes sense and that’s not to discourage you from investing just there are alternatives such as the stock market. so I’d start by asking where you want to live, do you want to own a single family home or does it make more sense to rent in a more interesting neighborhood like Arlington, Alexandria, that’s gonna be a personal choice, Will your monthly payment actually be less than renting/how many people do you need to get in the house to afford that?