If you feel like the properties have appreciated, you might consider doing 1031 exchange.

Since you are already familiar with house hacking, I would consider converting your current home into a rent-by-room or whatever it takes to keep it as a long-term rental, then look for another home you can hack.

I've considered switching my profile back to just "investor" for various reasons, so I guess I'm not your typical agent on here aggressively looking to pick up new investor clients (although I'm happy to help of course).

Hi, I’m highly considering a mixed use building which includes a few residential units and a couple commercial units.

For a first-time investor though, I'd seriously consider starting with a turnkey duplex.

It is virtually daily that i see purchases or considered purchases that appear to have no path to success.  

If you feel these small issues are a lot to handle, you may want to reconsider whether you want to hold onto this property as an out of state landlord or at least consider hiring a real professional property manager to deal with all of this for you.

Here are the key points to consider: Preliminary Injunction: This is a preliminary injunction, not a final disposition.

Also, check if they have skin in the game (their own money invested), as it shows they’re confident in the deal and aligned with your interests.If you’re considering alternatives, REITs are fantastic for super-passive investors who want steady, low-effort returns—usually about 2 points above a savings account—but you lose tax benefits and control.

This could involve offering a higher interest rate in exchange for reduced upfront costs or deferring payments until a certain milestone.If building right away isn’t feasible, consider buying the lot now with the goal of paying it off over time, and save up to build when rates and budgets align.