if you want to buy a vacation house for your family, and you can afford it, and you'll occasionally rent it out - that's great, it's just not an investment. 

We had to bring the 1925 house to 2023 code which involved un-installing 26 windows that were already nicely installed (in appearance) in the house, reframing them to 2023 standards (at the time) which also involved strapping the bottom of the wood framing with metal straps (mind you this all after we had already completed the inside renovation).  

I plan to purchase a primary residence, multi-family home (2-5 units, 'house-hack'). 

If I sell one house per year, it will pay for itself.

People house hacking have far different expectations than someone buying properties with cash. 

Is it like you sold your house and don’t have to pay for the profit?

Consider exploring strategies like house-hacking or BRRRR, and connect with a mentor or local meetups.

Good on your friend for suggesting house hacking a duplex.

I have 9 partners on the mountain house at $117,500 each, and 10 partners on the beach house at $110,000 each, and I am currently looking for a few more partners on my jungle house near La Fortuna at $110,000 where there will be a total of 7 partners. 

The more information that you have out there the easier it is for people to find you, if you want them to find you.I almost everyday wear my "Rick Buys Houses" shirts with my phone number on it.