But this was an awesome opportunity for me because this is my first living situation where I will be on my own (and getting used to paying a rent/mortgage) but this will put my overall mortgage on a 400k house at roughly $2000 a month for the first year!

I've personally done just about every rehab scenario, properties I've lived in, properties bought as investments and even properties bought at auction.You've gotten good advice from folks on this list.

I live in Lawrenceville, GA and am beginning my first house hack, working to purchase another property by the end of the year. 

U live a lifestyle not a job huge difference..

If it pays for itself, it provides you with a "free" place to live during the off-season.

I like to look for locations that are good, and that I’d feel safe and comfortable living in if I was a single woman with a couple of kids.

I imagine once fully stabilized you will cashflow and live for free onsite?

Quote from @Min Zhang: Cincinnati is one of my favorite cities to live in Ohio.

I am an out of state Investor and I know a lot of you live and invest in St.

The loan is with you, not with your tenant, so none of that means anything to them - in fact because you live in one unit and it's under 4, if you were self-managing you don't even have to abide by fair housing laws (at least on the federal level).