If you're ever looking to chat more about investing strategies, or need any advice as you start your journey, feel free to reach out.My plan is to kick off my investing journey this year with my first live-in flip.

I am from Phoenix but lots of family from the Seattle and surrounding areas.My wife and I have been doing live in flips since 2019.

However, if you choose to stay there for a bit and sell you'll get the first $500K of profit tax-free if you've lived in it for at least 2 out of the 5 years prior to sale.

Buy where you intend to live, where you know the areas best.

Quote from @Marc Zak: In the market where I live (San Diego), appreciation has been strong and many predict it will continue to appreciate in the long term.However, with current interest rates (6% at best) and property tax (2%), the annual cost burden is 8%.Am I correct in saying that appreciation has to be above 8% annually (plus whatever my maintenance and vacancy costs are) for me to make any money in this scenario if the property is cash flow neutral?

You really should never leverage the home you live in.

When you live in that duplex for 2 years and then sell you'll be able to take 50% of the profit tax free (the allocation for the side you lived in). 

Hopefully you guys can help answer this for me......I live in West Virginia and primarily invest outside the state. 

City recently did a building inspection and we noticed the tenant is smoking in the unit (cigarettes and marijuana), food waste everywhere leading to building pest issues, and there are 5 people living there now (3 adults and 2 kids).

Keep the current investment and buy another house hack to live in.