I’m starting off wanting to get into a primary residence that I plan to house hack and then figure out the next move into investment properties but that’s down the roadwith all that said, are there other ways that im not thinking of to 1.

My wife not comfortable putting our house as equity, therefore we are utilizing other options to fund investment properties. 

If I sell one house per year, it will pay for itself.

These areas have affordable entry points, diverse housing stock, and steady demand.

If it is a high end housing product you may have to use a designer because they have access to some material/finish suppliers that are otherwise unavailable but that tends to only be for the highest end housing deliveries.

The house is set way back at the end of a long winding driveway, the front is fully fenced for maximum privacy. 

I recently looked at an existing STR, but either the seller did not track the expenses or they did not want to provide them. 

You certainly can ask the seller to make the units vacant before closing.

My interests especially lie with multifamily properties, house hacking, and fix & flips.

Quote from @Jimmy Jeter: Need some help to finish our house.