Best of luck as you navigate the process with your wife.

I'd recommend connecting with a local, investor-friendly Realtor to help you navigate available inventory and go over possible investments.With 3.5% down, I still think house-hacking will be the best route to take. 

I am working on renovating a multifamily building on the Westside of Los Angeles county and trying to figure out how to navigate a situation.

I am bullish on the AZ Market, but I can navigate Cleveland very well as I grew up there.

Here's a guide that will help you navigate in the right direction.https://www.biggerpockets.com/member-blogs/10850/86621-six-steps-approach-to-getting-started-in-real-estate

My property manager/realtor friend there is awesome and could probably help you navigate the area.

Having a local real estate agent who also invests in STRs and focuses on selling investment properties is a huge plus, as they can help you navigate which investment will be best.

I know I can do this, but doing this will require navigating through many steps, all of which will be firsts for me. 

Having the liquidity to navigate stress demands a premium today. 

I stuck with RentecDirect over Buildium as I felt it was easier to navigate.