If you are comfortable with those numbers and you can wait it out until interest rates improve then go for it.You could also consider putting down a larger downpayment.

Then as you feel more comfortable you can start taking on more complex projects

Almost no one likes to sleep on a day bed - they just aren't very comfortable - so all you end up gaining is extra, unused floor space.

After all that extra time with your parents coming back around the holidays and giving yourself strong footing to have a comfortable life is worth considering. 

That is a pretty gray area that I don't feel super comfortable in but you may feel differently. 2.

By the time I decided to move forward with a property, I felt very comfortable about working with Zach and his team.

You have many  options with that property you have, do not ever assume anything (like not doing the kitchen/bath and going STR).You need to figure out what you are comfortable with and what will make you $$.

Buy creative real estate, don't chase the comfort of a nice new house, chase the cashflow opportunities to start.

“Safety comes in numbers”Also, in my opinion you should NEVER invest what your can’t comfortably afford to loose.You are 100% correct about prices increasing over the years.The answer is quite simple.

I think it depends on how comfortable you want your tenants to be, but me personally I wouldn't add it.