I have seen loan products that will let you purchase a mixed use property to live in the residential unit, but that is a specific product and you should consult and expert to see the best option for you and your cash on hand.  

If house hacking isn't the best option for me, how would you recommend starting out to build up some investments.

As a rule, I could argue to have the IRA (Roth preferred) NOT hold property, but control is with options, leases, etc, so the profits come into the IRA.

When house hacking, consider the area's average rents, property values, and financing options, such as FHA loans or conventional loans, which may require as little as 3.5% down for multifamily properties (if it's owner-occupied).

Any insight into the kind of options we may have for something like this and how qualification for a small hotel differs from residential conventional loans would be extremely helpful.

If they don't pay willingly, what are my options? 

You can contribute by finding deals or managing properties in exchange for a share of the profits.Lease Options: Control properties without owning them by renting with an option to buy, and potentially sublease for profit.Owner Financing: Buy properties directly from sellers willing to finance, bypassing traditional lenders and often requiring less upfront money.REIGs: Join real estate investment groups to pool funds with others for property investments.For a more hands-off approach, investing in turnkey properties in growing markets with minimal upfront investment would be ideal (like in the Southeast and Midwest of the country).

If you don't have free cash available that limits lots of options, but if you do, that is another story. 

I've done some digging on Batchleads, it seems to be the best option for skip tracing.A realtor friend warned me about the consistent "No's" I'll eat before i get my first deal.

I have saved up some money but my goal is to save up at least 20k in a year before I start looking for options on house hacking in a duplex.