Ultimately build equity by having tenants cover mortgage.

Since you have good personal credit but little capital, consider leveraging strategies like house hacking, partnerships, seller financing, or DSCR loans that don’t require strong business credit.

@Nam-June JoeYou're in a strong position with excellent credit and a clear plan for purchasing a 3–5 unit multifamily property near Emory University.

at 26 - you could build a portfolio just by house hacking every 1-2 years for the next 5-10 years.

For example, I own two large multifamily buildings, and when I tried to get a tax exemption for them, I had different experiences.

Some areas worth looking into:Centrally located neighborhoods like Alhambra and parts of Maryvale still have affordable properties with strong rental demand.West Phoenix (Tolleson, Avondale, parts of Glendale) offers good price points with room for appreciation.South Phoenix is seeing a lot of development and has solid long-term potential.Mesa and pockets of the East Valley can work, especially if you find something that needs light rehab but has strong rental demand.It’s definitely tough to get both cash flow and appreciation in today’s market, but if you’re strategic with your buy, rehab, and financing, BRRRR is still doable in Phoenix.

One of the benefits is that being on the loan can help build his credit, which will be valuable for his future financial goals.

You might also explore BRRRR to build long-term wealth while recycling capital.

We are considering building and holding townhomes but need to determine the costs.  

Our team along with clients all are heavily investing in the area, and it is a strong place to start. close proximity to New York and New Jersey, paired with extremely affordable property/taxes and high rental demand make it on most people's radar.