I can get it with a DSCR loan now and would not live in it initially, but would want to eventually move into it 6-12 months down the road.

I like to look for locations that are good, and that I’d feel safe and comfortable living in if I was a single woman with a couple of kids.

Kudos to you for doing something to create a secondary income stream. there are 5 income streams in RE rentals, possibly six if you do things a certain way.The reality here is your model (buy box) is suffering from too high an entry and too high a cost of capital.

I’d even consider finishing the basement, just well enough for me to live down there, so I could rent out ALL the units.I’d save all my cash and look to refi the property in 1-2 years out of the FHA mortgage, so I could use it again if necessary.

Learn the area, meet other investors at meet-ups and one-on-one conversations, and once you feel more confident, you can make a purchase to live in. 

Where are you going to move and live for $300 a month?

I’ve lived here my whole life and worked hard to buy a house in my parents' neighborhood, which is the most sought-after area in the city.

We lived in Aiken for 1 year prior to that. 

And I was living below them so it made it tough as I was going through the eviction process with them.

Living in a camper van for 3 years while working remotely is impressive — that kind of adaptability definitely carries over to real estate.