Also seems like a lot of MF sells occupied with tenants in place so you just have to comfortable with that and contracting up from and seeing inside after contracting.    1st step is to find a great lender and get pre-approved for a loan so you know what your budget is. 

I think working with an architect to build something really unique and custom is always the best move if you have the budget for it.

The condo will limit the rental options to age restrictions. 

Your only option will be to find a job to supplement your diminishing ability to sustain your standard of living.The income must last throughout your lifetime.

When I have some free time, I'll research other options that won't cost a fortune for the small guy.

Two best options are house hack or sell and acquire a 1031 property.

To be more specific about what i'm looking to do: My 1-2 year goal is to employ the BRRRR strategy with SFHs and Condos by buying distressed / highly undervalued properties that need work (preferably all-cash) in low crime areas with strong rental demand, renovate them within budget (again preferably all-cash) and get them rent ready before refinancing them at the highest ARV possible.

Creative Freedom: You get to design and transform spaces, which can be personally fulfilling.The Bad: Where Flippers Lose Money⚠️ Underestimating Repair Costs: Surprise structural issues, contractor delays, and material price spikes can kill your budget.⚠️ Market Changes: A hot market today might cool down before you sell, which reduces the profit.⚠️ Financing Challenges: Hard money loans carry high interest rates that nibble into the bottom line.Unrealistic timelines: If you think you're going to be in and out in 60 days, you're sadly mistaken-most flips take longer than expected.Real Talk: Is Fix and Flip Still Worth It?

Staging your house well can help you attract more attention from buyers, which ultimately helps it sell faster and maybe for a higher price than an unstaged home (see visual):What Are My Staging Options?

An option to better understand and see the model without having to spend all the time is turnkey interesting.