@Isadore Nelson Yes, eviction is possible, but there are too many factors that need to be taken into consideration, active military family members, disabled veterans, building violations, maintenance issues and etc...

The power of leverage is one of the main benefits that distinguishes RE from other investment choices, and the refi is where real wealth is made.

My main concern about actual house hacking for a few years in a row is that we don't want the kiddos to have to change schools once we relocate up there.I'm thinking about getting an appreciation-oriented duplex/triplex in a pricier market with good schools that we could stay in for several years, and saving for an actual cashflow property that'd we buy as an investment property instead of a house hack.

@Julian Martinez woo, that window wall definitely has a wow factor.

That can be the determining factor on if you have a good buyers agent. 

Look into factors like vacancy rates, local job growth, and tenant demand to pinpoint promising markets.Once you find a property, work on running the numbers carefully—factor in purchase price, rehab costs (if applicable), property management fees, and reserves.

Other factors such as the quality of the tenant, and location will also determine the value you can get.

I was mainly thinking about the effects of putting an entire strong cashflow back into the mortgage.

There are other communities that would have better opportunities to cash flow.Although there is no guarantee of future income on any STR, I believe that 2025/2026 we will see a good increase in travel, mainly due to EPIC opening and the overall attitude of 'the people' coming off of the election.

Quote from @Tanner Lewis: Hey Chelsea - I'm pretty active on the lending side in the Smokies since it's mainly rural STRs.