You get the best of both worlds, and you can reduce your cost of living and sometimes live for free, even with a 7% interest rate.Personally, I don't recommend starting with properties with HOAs since HOAs can restrict your ability to house hack it with different strategies, and they can even restrict your lease from being under one year.Hope this helps!

This includes restrictions on property use, rental regulations, and any upcoming changes in the area that might affect your investment.Patience Is Truly a Virtue:Real estate investing is not a get-rich-quick scheme.

I wanted to take a minute to let you know a little bit more about how our system may be a good fit for you (admittedly we are not the right fit for everybody—so many different ways for investors to make money in this industry).You mentioned that you love the idea of someone vetting deals for you, as you are restricted on time.

If they continue to occupy after the lease expiration in most jurisdictions they are a tenant holding over and you can impose rent at 150% of what it was in the last month of their lease.

Now you are restricting yourself to the "unqualified," for lack of better term, market.Otherwise, yes stay with at least 20% down. 

However, downsides include regulatory restrictions on bank lending, many institutions that restrict concentration and geographies, and other headaches and issues that arise when dealing with a slower-moving bank.DSCR loans are the option that has completely changed the BRRRR lending landscape in the last few years.

Because retirement is 10-15 years away, things can change, STR restrictions are always changing, and you may change your mind where you want to retire.

LA has laws restricting it if it isn't a primary residence, no more than 120 days, etc.

With the new STR laws in Chelan County putting lots of restrictions on STR owners, occupancy limits, and a cap on the number of STRs in certain areas it is very difficult to get into the STR market here right now.

Condos can be a good option for new investors, but updating kitchens and bathrooms might not add as much value compared to single-family homes, especially with potential restrictions from condo associations.