Currently house hacking and finishing the unit I occupy.

Somewhere in the middle is likely your best bet for a 20 year timeline.I have almost 50 units here myself and that's about what my portfolio is cash flowing at this point combined LTV is around 65% as loans have gotten paid down and values have went up.

When they have $400 they can buy 1% of the home.

I own a 17 unit apartment building near Minneapolis built in the 60s and wanting to implement wifi camera system and modernize the access panel (wifi managed).Any vendor recommendations?

I've been buying and renting here since 2009, the deals are hard to find these days but definitely out there!

First pro is you learn how to be a landlord and to manage properties and this is the best way to get started into real estate investing.

You are still going to get the best rate possible with your significant down payment and with good credit I'm assuming.   

They will get the highest price and the best terms for their property by marketing it professionally and exposing it to the maximum number of retail buyers, which means putting it on the MLS with an agent.

Yes, it could fit the bill on a pad split.

Make sure you get that landlord info of the housing before the one they are in now.