I think you would save a little while rehabbing, but at what long term cost. 

I you know how to swing a hammer or turn a wrench, you can save a ton of money on the maintenance side of things. 

With the savings from reduced housing costs, you can reinvest in more properties, gradually building a diverse real estate portfolio.

But if you can save the 25%, that's often enough to take it from a break even to a decent profit.

I had been living in a PadSplit and was able to save enough to buy a property so I bought this one and house hacked it as a 4/2 using the PadSplit platform.

Besides my current rent, I still have to pay an additional $1~2000 for the mortgage, etc.Pros:Better financing rates than for investment propertiescan manage it myself to save the PM feehaving my own place without worrying about rent increasesCons:May only afford a small townhome or apartment, not sure if I still want to live there after 5 yearOption 2: Investing in Out-of-State Multifamily PropertiesI could use my cash to invest in several multifamily properties out of state and use the cash flow to cover my rent.Pros:Potential to spread risk across multiple propertiesThe cashflow can cover my rent, maybe have extra leftCons:Additional costs for property managementLimited potential for appreciationHave no experience in managing OOS property, and I am afraid it will be annoyingI’d love to hear your thoughts or any advice you might have.

That’s not a lot of tax savings but it does give you $68k so you can put down 10% on your $650k home.

Totally worth it to cover any gaps.For managing it all, a Property Management System (PMS) could save you a ton of time by syncing calendars, automating messaging, and handling bookings.

- Any advice on cost-saving strategies for infrastructure?

It's a cost-saving up front and lasts longer than many other choices.