You seem young so I'll give you some game.Think about what income you need to TRULY retire or have financial independence.

House hacking is undoubtedly an excellent way to embark on your real estate investing journey.It can significantly accelerate your path to financial independence.

I’m in my late 20s and not in a rush to retire, but my goal is to achieve financial independence in the next 10 years through real estate.I’m considering two options:Option 1: House Hacking with a Multifamily PropertyI probably have to use all my cash for the down payment, and the rent income won't cover the mortgage.

Alternatively if you feel confident in the higher value, I would ask if the lender is open to doing an independent appraisal ordered by an AMC instead of a desktop one. 

In California, an unlicensed professional cannot independently let a client into a home to show it; only a licensed real estate agent can conduct property showings, although an unlicensed assistant may be present to let someone in under the supervision of a licensed agent for specific purposes like inspections or repairs, but cannot discuss the property details or engage in sales activitiesPaying agents hourly would drive your overhead through the roof especially if the brokerage is not closing deals!!!

After reviewing the latest ordinances, reports, and city guidelines, here’s a summary of my findings as of 11/18/2024:Key FindingsPermit Types and Fees:Type 1 (Owner-Occupied): $300 for 3 years.Type 2 (Non-Owner-Occupied): $450 for 3 years.Density caps apply to Type 2 permits (12.5% of block face).Enforcement:3 violations in 3 years lead to permit revocation.Fines up to $500/day for violations.Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT):City: 9%, County: 1.75%, State: 6%.Platforms like Airbnb and VRBO will remit directly to the city starting Feb 2025.Platform Obligations:STRs must have valid permits; unpermitted properties will be removed by platforms like Airbnb.Special Exceptions for Density Limits:Require approval by the Board of Adjustment (BOA).Zip Code BreakdownI focused on these 11 zip codes:Under San Antonio Rules:78205, 78204, 78215, 78210, 78212, 78245, 78258Independent Municipalities (Separate Rules):Alamo Heights (78209)Leon Valley (78238)Helotes (78023)Next Steps:Research density caps and zoning in specific zip codes.Dive into independent municipality rules for Alamo Heights, Leon Valley, and Helotes.Evaluate market maturity and income potential using tools like AirDNA.If anyone has experience operating STRs in San Antonio or these specific zip codes, I’d love to hear your insights, especially about density limits, enforcement trends, or community sentiment.Thanks in advance!

Best do Joint venture with an experienced investor and then slowly get independent is a good approach

A separate flip account can help manage flips independently.

And the Tulum Airport is another one.Mexico is happily part of the USMCA (ex-NAFTA) and its economy is highly independent on the US for its exports, as well as from the American direct investments in the country, including in real estate.A huge number of Americans and other foreigners own properties in Mexico. 

You can learn to do this independently or get a rockstar REALTOR to lead the way.