After watching some of the podcasts and reading posts I am set on starting my real estate journey utilizing the house hacking strategy.

@Tyler Speelman Your strategy to assist your sibling with a down payment while minimizing tax liability is creative but comes with complexities.

While the current conditions may feel challenging, they also present opportunities to fine-tune your strategy and stand out in a crowded market.Are you experiencing these trends in your portfolio?

I'd underwrite the property, with that low interest rate assumable mortgage, to cash flow positively from day 1 as a long-term rental, but be willing and able to use the rent by the room strategy or to rent out part of the property as a Short Term Rental to dramatically increase cash flow during my occupancy. 

Like a calculator to simulate this strategy (https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/61/topics/795487-retire...), maybe showing how much equity could be pulled out of which property when, whether the portfolio would still cash flow, etc.

What type of investment strategy do you focus on?

The BRRR is a great strategy, but you will have to search hard to find a distressed duplex that you’re able to force appreciation on in this neck of the woods.

Two, you'll have a much easier time obtaining a mortgage product if you have a track record of W2 income.In the meantime, continue implementing the strategies you mentioned: save religiously, build your credit, pay any existing debt owed, etc.

@Treza Edwards "I am reading the Rental Property Investing book and implementing the method that focuses on cash flow and that strategy states you need to have $300 cash flow per month, per property.

If you are out there driving for dollars and getting leads, than that’s definitely the strongest strategy for getting the best deals… it just takes time that not all have.