This can be especially appealing for those who enjoy traveling or seeking occasional getaways.

Just to confirm my understanding, you are living in a side by side duplex in Miami - you want to renovate the other side that you aren't living with a renovation loan?

If you get help and look in the right locations, you can make the numbers work and still enjoy the property with your family.

You went to work, made your money, and then enjoyed your life with your family.

You have the ability to sell while limiting your capital gains tax because you lived in 2 of the last 5 years. 

I assume you’ve got a loan that says you will be living there.

They knew a dog lived there when they rented it and they rented anyway, knowing they had allergies and chronic asthma they rented a home with carpet. 

I'm from Leesburg, and I can tell you—multi-family is a solid choice (piggybacking the previous comments which I agree 💯), especially with that live-in/rent-out, house hack strategy.

Very generally speaking the areas of Hartford and New Haven where you can hope to attract qualified tenants (assuming that is your goal) are very expensive because most of the people with something to lose that live in these cities generally live in 2 or 3 areas.

I personally learned I enjoy local investing in residential properties.