@Vince Scipione  This is very solid advice to keep it separate and I agree with you, the only reason I was even thinking of it was to help me raise the initial funds for my first investment.

I've been studying real estate investing for a solid year.

I’d recommend looking for a market that’s affordable and has good rental demand—local job growth or proximity to schools can be a sign of a solid investment.

Having a solid mentor that can show you the ropes and quicken your learning can be invaluable.

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.

Cleveland is a solid cashflow market.

If you're open to purchasing out of state and hiring a property manager, you can find solid single-family rentals in lower cost-of-living markets.

If so you should be able to qualify for solid terms on a DSCR based loan. 

You'll need a solid proforma and to build a team with expertise.

@Jose Saladin Purchasing your sister’s home as a live-in rental offers instant equity (~$170K), tax benefits, and landlord experience, making it a solid first step into real estate investing.