I am not getting paid, or any perks to write my opinion on their services.First of all I will say the average investor that is just getting into investing should not worry so much about asset protection, their goal should education and effort into their business.

House hacking is an ideal 1st investment strategy, but because of your situation..I'd keep saving, living below your means, and keep educating yourself.

You can play around with an amorization table and make an educated guess based on the info found on public record.

However, there is an educational time component necessary.

With respect to the other market cycles this is what I would personally do to exploit the upcoming market cycle:Recession: Network and Educate!

I asked him in what ways was he educating himself in real estate.  

One could say, Lehigh paid for my college education.

But the title "property/real estate investor" can seem intimidating if you're not totally educated on the subject.

More educational and networking rather than promoting products and services.

EDUCATE YOURSELF - yes, it will take time, but will lead to a selection that better meets your expectations & avoids potentially costly surprises!