Financing - since the upfront repair work might require additional cash out of hand,  what are some creative financing ideas.

I have no idea how Sheriff sales work but I know that some people do well so I am working on learning more about them.

*Development plans for expanded Hoffman Town Center*Although specific tenants have not been named yet due to the development being in the earlier design and planning stages, the vision as described by Hoffman Co. is a commercial and residential mixed-use development including a new public school, storage center, city agency training, a farmer's market, festival space, beer garden, and "other similar uses approved by the city".Sources:Developer laying groundwork to go bigger in Alexandria’s Eisenhower corridorAlexandria considering big plans for properties next to Eisenhower Avenue Metro stationPotomac Yards Alexandria: The 2$ Billion Sports Arena is not the Biggest Development in the Pipeline for Potomac YardsThe Sports Arena was a recent idea that was part of a bigger plan approved in 2017, that called for a massive shopping center at Potomac Yards and the surrounding area to be redeveloped into 1.9 million square feet of office space, 1.1 million square feet of residential space, 900,000 square feet of retail, 300 room hotel, and 9.3 acres of open space by JPG Smith.

The way I look at it is that courses are a very low investment & if I get one idea from them that I can use to make money it was worth it.

Quote from @Renee Coss: These are great ideas!  

Do you have an idea of the total tax credits?

I'm personally looking to start the exact same way as you with a multifamily house hack.It's great that you already have an idea of how much $ you qualify for so that you know what locations to start looking in.

With the idea of "we can turn money today into more money tomorrow by investing it," I place most of this within a taxable brokerage account where it grows based on the market broadly speaking.

And you assume the rest of the mortgage that you're already guaranteeing.Your idea to refinance immediately after to get favorable financing is perfectly fine. 

Pay a contractor to walk the property or multiple to get a idea.