Why would you take your cash, and spend it on a property you don't need to spend it on, instead of using that cash to increase your properties,...and income.

This approach would allow me to learn with each deal and minimize initial risks.2️⃣ Go Straight to Multifamily: Instead of starting with SFHs, I could spend time learning the multifamily business and go directly for a 20+ unit building, maximizing scalability from the start.I have no experience with either strategy.If you were in my position, which strategy would you choose and why?

Quote from @Noah Kellar: Is it worth spending 16k on new LP smartside siding prior to an appraisal for a refi or heloc?

Just need to spend a year somewhere I may have no desire to live.Hybrid Plan:Keep researching out-of-state markets and act if a great deal appears.Move back to LA, live in Airbnbs in to get a feel for neighborhoods (open to suggestions), and house hack once I find a deal.Would love to hear from those who’ve house-hacked in LA or NYC or started with out-of-state rentals—what would you do in my shoes?

I took out a Heloc I owe 230k on the house and I plan on spending 100k updating making my total in 330k.

If I spend at least 300 bucks or more I get 6 to 18 months no interest. 

So are you spending $100s of dollars per property prior to the tax deed auction for title research? 

Go to Etsy and search for "rental property tracker," and you will find hundreds of nice spreadsheets to track 10-20 rentals, usually for under $10.Software has extremely helpful features like online payments, marketing syndication (click a button, and your property is advertised on multiple sites), electronic document review/signing, maintenance tracking, and owner reports.

It's only dead if you are spending too much on your purchase.  

I spend most of my investment time in the rehab space.