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.

I've included an example below to help illustrate this.So different lenders have different rates (which do vary even for DSCR loans) but these are factors they all consider.See example below:DSCR < 1Principal + Interest = $1,700Taxes = $350, Insurance = $100, Association Dues = $50Total PITIA = $2200Rent = $2000DSCR = Rent/PITIA = 2000/2200 = 0.91Since the DSCR is 0.91, we know the expenses are greater than the income of the property.DSCR >1Principal + Interest = $1,500Taxes = $250, Insurance = $100, Association Dues = $25Total PITIA = $1875 Rent = $2300DSCR = Rent/PITIA = 2300/1875 = 1.23If a purchase, you also generally need reserves / savings to show you have 3-6 month payments of PITIA (principal / interest (mortgage payment), property taxes and insurance and HOA (if applicable).

A moderate 80s update in Houston may not match Indy, so leaning on someone who knows the local buyer pool can save a lot of back and forth.All the best,Johnny

Additionally, we can run an automated instant valuation to save you both time and money on appraisals.Please let me know if you’re interested in getting a quote!

This will save you on subscription costs.If you want to discuss any of this further, I'm happy to answer questions and help walk you through it.Best of luck!

@Ben Cochran I hope you have factored STR tax savings into your cashflow and ROI as it can be significant.

The more lead credits you purchase at once the more you save.

PropStream has a really awesome driving for dollars app that allows you to save properties that you driveby and then export the list when you get home.

The more money you save, the lower your monthly payment because the more you can put down.This is really great advice....some of the best. 

The downside is they usually come with higher interest rates and shorter loan terms.Partnerships or Co-signers: If your husband or a trusted partner has U.S. legal status and credit history, they might be able to co-sign or help with financing.Cash Purchases: Since you have savings in Canada, you might consider using that for your first property, especially for a smaller rehab project.Foreign National Loans: Some lenders specialize in providing loans for foreign nationals.