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My advise would be to obtain properties in multiple markets

I say amateur, because although I have had multiple SFR rentals for nearly 15 years I was new to the multi-plexs and new to the area that I was buying. 

Your wife has multiple children and a household to run. 

This can help you cover your mortgage while you build equity and gain more experience managing multiple tenants and building out better systems and processes if you do decide you want to pursue larger properties. 

I think increasing in small increments slowly over time makes more sense than waiting multiple years and resetting to the market (assuming you're able to to that in SF). 

Looking for advice - purchased first STR 2023 and we qualify for active income based on rule 3 of the material participation test.

These allow you to finance multiple properties under one loan, which can be way more efficient than getting individual loans for each one.

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In practicality it attached to all real estate owned in that county, but the plantiff can refile the judgement in multiple counties where the defendant owns real estate.