Also, the risk is that, when owners realize they don't get the promised returns, they'll all want to sell and there's gonna be a huge amount of selling in an illiquid market, which could create a cutthroat price competition.

Other than lowering my DTI ratio (which is what I'm focusing on now), is there another way to realize that equity or am I stuck with dead equity until I can get that ratio to a better space?

I also didn't realize how many different skills were required, from financing to managing contractors to permits to city inspections to managing tenants or property managers.

the best beginner options are a house hack or live-in flip - with that said though, i realize that (1) not everyone's life or family situation permits this, and (2) some markets have many more small multifamily properties than others. 

I soon realized that the best way is to just get multiple estimates.

I absolutely, 100% realize that I need to be the one to pay the tax bill.

You do realize that you just suggested another “tip” for Ken to sell, right?

I realize that they were just trying to sell me something at all cost and been chasing me with phone calls/text messages.On that note, I wouldn't mind to have someone more experienced than I am to run my deals through and pick their brains from time to time.

Got an inspection report done and it noted a few panels that might have needed replacing (nothing to serious), but once we started opening things up, we realized minor patchwork won't work.

The more I think about it, the more I realize that a Solo 401k is probably not an option for me because I will not have self-employment income.