What I can say is that many physician + spouse combos have successfully done this and survived audits. 

The reality is most financially independent people went through a decade + of working 60-80 hours a week.

So I would definitely do some independent research on any company that is actively offering life-lines to real estate companies in trouble.All the best!

To answer your title directly, house hacking is entirely worth it and if you're willing to be a landlord it's 100% the best springboard to financial independence.

If I moved out of state I would hire a property manager, but I would hire a smaller independent property manager who is also an investor like myself.

I would caution any investor to beware and run the numbers independently of the spreadsheets provided by the Grocapitus sales team. 

Aggressively pay back the HELOC just like you did when you use it for the repairs, and you'll have a second property with it's own, independent long-term financing.

Guide to Kansas City Zip codes B+ zipsBlue Springs 6401564014Grain Valley 64029Lee’s Summit 640686406364081Raymore 64083Kansas City, MO 641456411264101Liberty64158Northland 64152641516415464155Shawnee Mission 6621766216662196621566210Olathe6602666061Prairie Village 66205Gardner 66030B zips Kansas City, MO641056411464111Kansas City, MO641376413864108641116413164110Independence: 640556405664057North Kansas City64119Overland Park/Merriam 662026620366204662146621266214B - /C+ zipsGladstone64118North Kansas City64116 64117 Independence: 64052Raytown 64133Grandview 64030 Belton 64012Kansas City, KS6611266106C zipsHistoric Northeast:6412464123Kansas City, MO6412964130641096413264134Independence: 640536405464050Kansas City, KS66102661036610466105Riverside64150D zips Kansas City, MO64125641266412764128Kansas City, KS66101

That saves the homes that are already in existence and provides residents with the ability to remain independent in their own homes, free from the stress and resultant health and mental problems that accompany the constant threat of eviction.  

You can learn to do this independently or get a rockstar REALTOR to lead the way.