What do you think of my essentially 7-word answer? 

@Jahniya Butlercan you start with a house hack instead? 

@James Tobin  house hacking is a GREAT way to start.

If you aren't going to be living in Texas then it would be tough to do a house hack there.

What I like about multifamily is the splitting of costs.

If you're willing and able, I do recommend the "house hacking" strategy which is just a fancy name for buying a rental property and living in one of the units, because you'll get very favorable financing - an owner-occupied fixed-rate 30-year mortgage.I'd also say, analyze that property as if you won't live there and it's a pure rental, and make sure the property is still cash flow positive if there's a tenant in your unit because then you'll know if it's actually a good investment.And when you analyze it, include payment of a property manager in your #s because if you don't, and doing so would make it go cash flow negative, then you've just bought yourself a job because you literally can't step away from managing it without losing money.

What is the financing vehicle? 

Quote from @Alex Minter: Quote from @Daniel McDonald: Welcome @Alex Minter I've been house hacking the past few years just north of Boston and understand the desire to build a portfolio.

What are they asking you to put in instead, a park, basketball hoops, a skating rink, a police station maybe. 

You don't know for sure exactly what their occupancy rates are but you can certainly get a feel for it by seeing what future dates are open.