So basically in my mind this would not be a great financial move as we be accruing about 200k more in debt if we were to sell one house and take the cash from there and use it as a down payment.

I understand this is a good way to become financially secure over time and am eager to start.  

I'm eager to learn about how to find and fund properties that help my family financially and my community with affordable/reasonable dwellings for young families and newlyweds.

Quote from @Kailas Tare: When deciding which market segment to target in real estate—whether it’s multifamily (MF) properties or single-family homes (SFH)—it's crucial to consider the dynamics of the competitive landscape and your own financial position.

In your situation, I might investigate further to see if their credit was better before these hurricanes.

If you need financial help, ask under the "Finance, Tax, and Legal" forum.

This is a great first step into your financial future.

There’d need to be a lot of rehab work/managing that would require you to put in that many hours.From a financial perspective, it seems like the highest leverage way to keep buying more properties is leveraging your W-2’s and then being work optional.

Very few readers have had to deal with this situation?

@Diego L.That's actually an interesting situation and a case where revocable trust may make sense.