Probably not much better time to try out the rental game and if it doesn’t work well, or we don’t like it we can still sell and keep the capital gains exemption.

Wouldn't the equity I have play a factor in this?

It requires some work—you’ll be a landlord after all—but the financial rewards can be significant.If you’re willing to live near your tenants, take on property management tasks, and want to grow your investment portfolio, this strategy could be a game-changer for your financial future.Final ThoughtsHouse hacking with a multifamily property is more than just a way to save on housing costs—it’s a proven method to accelerate your real estate investing journey.

The marketing isnt that important in my opinion but the professional photo/ video is a huge game changer and I dont believe that someone is going to make much profit at .5% on the listing side.

This is why you need to do a ton of due diligence on them and make sure they have skin and the game and something to lose.

Quote from @Randy Achi: This is where a mentor would come into play big for you!

As a fairly-newish-to-the-game investor around your age, I appreciate the candor.  

A HELOC gives you flexibility since you can draw as needed and only pay interest on the amount you use, which might be useful if you’re not sure exactly how much you’ll need upfront.That said, it’s important to compare the interest rates between a HELOC and your expected returns in the stock market—if you’re making more in your investments than you’d pay in interest, it could be a good play. 

Alternatively i could go for being a real estate broker and try to get experience in actual real estate without putting too much of my own skin in the game.

Seek out those who’ve been in the game for a while.