For funding, explore options like FHA loans, personal savings, or creative financing, and focus on New Jersey markets that align with your goals, such as Newark for rentals or commuter towns for house hacking.

I didn't realize it at the time but through my first few jobs I was fortunate to work alongside teams who were true real estate finance experts and learning through observation was critical to my personal real estate investing growth. 

I think I was having a hard time seeing the value of turnkey properties because of my personality style with regards to investing and wanting to trade up quickly.

We would want to use it for personal use probably one per year. 

If you close with a conventional loan, it will need to be in your personal name.

You missed an important item: Depending on how a person does #1 or #2, it could get them: A fast-pass to the "Principles Office" for "bullying" and now there sitting in "detention".... 

Share what you are looking for and the deals you are working on with your network in person and on social media regularly.2.

If it did flood though, I personally would steer clear.

I'm not a professional Tax person.

Take out an equity line of credit on the property that can be sides as the down payment for the primary residence.