At the same time, I want to start a family and to be the very best dad I can be by being with my kids as much as humanly possible and spending the least amount of time on work.

This seems to be a lazy human's way to jump into investing, but I feel it would be a good way to learn some of the processes of investing while avoiding warming waters and time consuming rehab projects.

However, there's a human element and I do have compassion for my ex.

But, that's not how the human mind works.

I'm planning to make my first LTR property within the next 6 months and in the meantime working toward that goal by building great contacts, educating myself as much as humanly possible, and securing a HELOC. 

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/a-new-seattle-housing-law-forbids-landlords-from-checking-into-tenants-criminal-history-but-does-it-go-too-far-2018-12-26The ideology in these markets says that people deserve housing as a basic human right.  

It's just human nature - we tend to attribute characteristics we like to people we like.

@Michael Ealy,Totally agree with your point of running the numbers and anticipating what comes with the investment, rather than what someone else trying to convince you whether a property is worth it or not.There is also a human side to being a landlord and not everyone is cut for it.

Unlike the other lenders, Figure.com does automatic appraisal (without a human involved) based on public data and they treat ADU square footage the same as the main house square footage.

I want to have a human approach, but this makes me a tad nervous.2.