However, if I had started off with a house hack, I could have lower my monthly mortgage tremendously which would have helped me build up my savings at a much quicker pace than I had.

Very few people have reached financial independence...and others that have reached it that keep working do it for personal satisfaction.Incidentally, most of us consider real estate, done properly, to be lower risk than the stock market, which is why we invest in it.

Later you mentioned after prorations you had to come with 6% cash, what other items on the settlement statement added up to 4% lowered your DP to 6%? 

My apartments are in a lower income area, so I don't want it priced too high where it is going to scare them away from applying.

I am in Milwaukee, very hot rental market.Whenever you have an issue like this, think with an XLS and project dollars, for example:- 2 months lost rent: 2 x $2000- 5% lower purchase price: $15,000 

I keep hopping around from Florida to Nashville to North Carolina, maybe Ohio for the lower price point when I was considering buying more than arbitrage.  

This often means a smaller down payment and lower monthly payments compared to a traditional bank loan, especially since the seller may not be tied to the high interest rates banks are offering.Another option is a land loan from a local credit union or bank.

. #2 many private/hard money lenders will consider furnishings if the deal, including the furnishings, falls into their deal box.Believe it or not, it might be easier to include the furnishings in the deal with a significantly lower down payment if there is other rehab work to be done.

There are a wide variety of amenities that will enhance the guest experience.Some lower cost ideas for 'fun amenities' could be...

Lower end wines are losing favour to higher end wines despite lower end wines outpacing high end wines of volume growth.