Focus on analyzing properties and starting small, like house hacking or buying a single-family home to rent out rooms, while ensuring cash flow and maintaining an emergency fund.

Thanks Jaycee,I think to start I am probably looking at a single family just to get my feet wet.

Rents are high in this town and I think folks just don't sell their multi-family units very often.  

@Camille RomeroOhio has plenty of good options under $200k for single family homes and small multifamily. 

@Dave Bobka @Justin Arnold So, if an investor is looking for a larger, family style home for a Section 8 tenant that is dependent upon public transit, this would be a great property, wouldn't it?

I'm currently looking to either buy a turn key multi-family or BRRRR a multi.

@Lauren MerendinoI strongly believe that your chosen market should be somewhere that you can go to in person / have strong personal knowledge of / have family or a network in already.  

Family, friends, and co-workers may already know someone looking to sell.

Wouldn't a guest under that policy be a friend or family member you have over to your primary residence? 

The way we have done it is to borrow from my 401K, when I pay mine back borrow from hers and repeat this cycle so we always have one we can pull from. 3) This option will be controversial but I have taken out private money loans with family and friends.