because there are two groups - those who are out buying real estate and doing deals and those who are marketing a lifestyle or dream to get people to pay for something that rarely if ever happens.

While they mostly aren't lying, they leave out a lot of reality.Why would a government funded program like S8 pay MORE than market rents?

But somebody could use a credit card fund the immediate need and then pay it back with the policy loan fairly quickly.

House hacking seems like the best strategy for me.My goal is to purchase a single-family home in Maryland, D.C, (from lurking I've heard D.C was terrible for investing) or Virginia with multiple rooms where I'm making monthly payments similar to what I pay in rent and other charges ($2000-$2500).

Some appliances just pays to get new.

It seems to me that any addendum signed later after the initial lease may create a messy situation. 

MattIRA can pay down 30k on the 100k and now owes 70k and has a note for 170k.

As I see it, the only ways that real estate pays you well in the first 3-5 years is low to no leverage or a strategy that requires more work (short term rental, mid term rental, rent by the room, etc.).  

That is online with what we’ve been paying when we were able to find help.

You also don't have to pay state tax on income.