Did you know that Fannie Mae recently lowered the required down payment to 5% for owner-occupied 2-4 unit homes?

If i were to purchase a 6 unit apartment for $280K, which fully occupied is roughly $5,050 a month.

They could tell you the Swiss alps, New York, Australia, Japan, or my favorite, Costa Rica.

You visit occupied properties?

Tenants may not occupy residence without utility service except during brief interruptions beyond your control.

Vivien - a 2-4 unit is great especially if you can owner occupy.

With a Conventional Loan you can buy a SFH, Duplex, Triplex or Quadplex with as little as 5% Down if it is your primary residence as long as you have the intention of occupying one of the units for 1 year after closing escrow.This is the strategy I have personally implemented and have assisted many of my investor clients in doing the same. 20% Down is also beneficial as it keeps your payment low but it does limit your ability of buying more real estate faster.i would be more than happy to discuss the different strategies with you over the phone or in person.

As Pat mentioned you have a lot more flexibility with home 1 because it has no mortgage and is not owner occupied.

It could be some sort of skill set for renovations, design for furnished rentals, specific market knowledge, owner occupied loan products for a house hack, etc. 

For example in many jurisdictions I can STR units in a duplex but cannot STR an ADU (some jurisdictions will let you STR if you owner occupy).