If you're willing and able, I do recommend the "house hacking" strategy which is just a fancy name for buying a rental property and living in one of the units, because you'll get very favorable financing - an owner-occupied fixed-rate 30-year mortgage.I'd also say, analyze that property as if you won't live there and it's a pure rental, and make sure the property is still cash flow positive if there's a tenant in your unit because then you'll know if it's actually a good investment.And when you analyze it, include payment of a property manager in your #s because if you don't, and doing so would make it go cash flow negative, then you've just bought yourself a job because you literally can't step away from managing it without losing money.

Quote from @Kaushik Sarkar: I’m exploring strategies to scale my real estate portfolio given the current mortgage rate Not sure much makes sense at 11%...Ouch....tough enough at 7.5%   Might have to put more than 20% down to finance....maybe 30% in North Texas.   

That makes sense.

This is advantageous bc later you have a third party loan (not your personal money) so seasoning period is 90 days to DSCR out. 

You start by mentioning your age... you'd need everything to go just right for the rest of your life to make, best case, $400 or less additional each month net cash flow. 

Just ensure the agreement is clear and formalized.Pooling reserves across properties might make sense if you’re confident in your cash flow and other contingencies.

They have the correct lease agreement and disclosures and make it much easier.

I am a twenty year plus licenses GC who has built over 100,000,000. in commercial and residential construction in the NY, NJ, PA, CT and CA marketplaces. I have flipped new homes and townhomes but phased out raising a...

Are you well capitalized and able to go 6+ months without making a dollar?

If you achieved this by paying all cash, then you are losing money.