Off-Market: I was working for a storage facility and the owner needed help removing his stuff because he was moving How did you finance this deal?

I have done it successfully on my last 2 buildouts, maybe 3, but only because I was able to acquire the properties at a very low price and I did all the work in-house (myself and some hired hands on staff).

Get a small MF you can house hack and start that way.I'm not an expert on the auction scene, but, from what I have read, that is a challenging first step into investing. 

house hacking is great start, that's how i started in the business. would love to connect

They are going to have a pool, possibly hot tub, maybe a snack bar, and be beach front. at least comparing to the PCB market, most houses in comparable prices to condos dont have those things and are not beach front.

I'm from Leesburg, and I can tell you—multi-family is a solid choice (piggybacking the previous comments which I agree 💯), especially with that live-in/rent-out, house hack strategy.

you borrow on your house lend to another and they default your now are fubared.

End of that relationship came when owner called us and expected us to go pick up their guy, who's truck broke down, and drive him to the house - and didn't want to pay us anything for this!

Use the two years to learn the area and I would suggest as soon as you can, find a duplex and start a house hack. 

I'm curious of the current market demand for student housing and appeal to rental investors.