I wasn’t prepared to lose so much of my savings as carrying cost basically I paid for the tenants to live there for 3 months + my own living expenses in that time.

If you’re just starting or want to minimize risk, house hacking is a killer move—grab a duplex, live in one unit, rent the other, and let it pay down your mortgage while you scale up.

Hello Meir,I live and invest in Birmingham area, please DM to connect!

Would your parents be interested in partnering on a duplex where you live in one side with a roommate and manage the other side rental? 

We do this for a living and our reputation depends on you successfully securing a loan, on time, and as promised. 

Fico while they will look these are not credit score driven loans like those buying rental houses or houses to live in...

There are some exceptions, but the HOA dues normally kill your returns and there are all kinds of other issues having tenants living close together. 

After 4-5-6 years then maybe roll them up into a small mulitfamily.Another option if you have the credit and some capital is to buy a 4 unit as owner/occupied and live in one and rent the other 3. 

I have 2 properties now one I live in but Short Term Rent it when not home which is a lot.

I live in Cullman.