Increase your earnings, reduce expenses, save up, and invest.

And since you are licensed, you can potentially do some sales on the side to increase income and save up for investing.

If I wasnt going to be doing this I would just be saving more money and staying for free with my parents.

THEN, I plan to purchase the second home using a FHA or conventional loan (3%-5% down), for which I will likely pay the monthly cost out-of-pocket, maybe with some rental income support if it is a duplex.My concern is, I do not want to spend my savings or weigh down my debt-to-income ratio so much so that I cannot qualify for and pay the down payment and closing for the lending on the second home.Questions: - With the first home being multi-family, 75% of the rental income (or potential rental income initially) will relatively either maintain or boost my debt-to-income ratio from lenders' perspectives, right? 

You might save a full percent just doing that and you have tons of money you didn’t pay in points.

I have a W-2 Job, capital saved up for a down payment (or two), and a buy box based on my affordability.

It’s like you bought the properties with a 30 year loan and are putting the rest in to a savings account.

It's super easy to use and will save you a ton of time :)The team at Steadily is absolutely fantastic!

You will learn a lot on your own home that will save you time and money on investment property.

We're trying to decide whether or not to pay it off or save to buy another property.