Starting with an owner-occupied multifamily is a great strategy—house hacking can really help you build equity while keeping your living costs low.

Given it's in a very low population area, it may just be an extremely slow, low demand rental.

I'm not a big fan of HELOC toward a down payment unless the numbers make sense and vacancy rate is low. 

Prices are through the roof in this current market with low inventory and single and multi family properties just don't pencil out.

Purchase price: $37,000 Sale price: $65,000 Land deal as is / buy low sale high.

This low inventory will continue to pressure up rents.The sales market is (finally) showing a seasonal slowdown.Sales - Months of SupplyThere are about 1.8 months of supply for our target property profile.

You've earned $132,000 more by splitting your money and leveraging it.Since I've been searching for more deals I have seen one or two that might actually cash flow decently but most seem to be at break even assuming normal expenses, vacancies, etc.I'm just learning my comfort levels with leveraging and trying to take advice from others about managing multiple low cash flow properties vs. one higher value one. 

Call and ask them who they know that you should connect with in 2025.Everything else for most people is low yield. 

The one performing is retail strips Fund.Long term I anticipate that 2 of my three MF deals will still turn a decent return (not the heyday level returns, but still high single/low double average annual return).  

Ditch the cheap shower surroundPlease don’t buy that cheap five-piece shower surround that you saw at Home Depot or Lowe’s.