Very powerful strategy.

I am also a huge fan of real estate and for the past 50 years there's been a way to combine both.By leveraging a Self-Directed IRA, real estate investors enjoy both the traditional advantages of property ownership and the additional tax benefits of retirement accounts, creating a powerful wealth-building strategy.

For example, we need proof of renters insurance and proof they put electricity in their name.So, it seems odd that you are accepted but they keep wanting more information. 

2) Electrical: Because we have no heat, we've been using two space heaters.

Electric: is the easiest to split, but may require holes cut in walls to separate the units.Gas: gas lines aren't as flexible as wires, but it can usually be done affordably.Water: most cities will NOT install additional water meters on a property.

All the power to you!

It was a huge investment, but it cut the electricity cost by the full 2K per/mo all summer.

and where you could start with a house hack... which is the best and most powerful way to get started.now, should you buy a random, 'cheap' (supposedly) property in some random market you may never live in or have any connection to, before you're settled, just to own an investment property? 

However, these properties generally have a lot of land improvements that qualify as well as certain portions of electrical, mechanical and plumbing that can qualify.

The limit on scaling is your deal flow (mine never was that good) and time it takes to perform the value add (I got fairly quick for example, my last rehab did all new plumbing, electrical, and flooring.