Thank you.Congratulations on taking the leap toward buying your first duplex and house hacking!

I would also say that many real estate salespersons will not be committed to an investor that just tells them to send properties to them that fit their buy box and then never hear from them again. 

BiggerPockets also has a calculator to analyze deals, and I highly recommend you start this as soon as possible, even if you are not ready to buy.

If you have the electrical capacity and the drain I would spend the $1600-$1,800 to buy the MUCH nicer ventless GE or LG all in one units.

The California method is you buy High and you sell HIGHER.  

-Recurring and Seasonal Maintenance Tracker -Finding a Market-Analyzing a Market-Property Closing Checklist-Underwriting and Analysis Worksheet-Due Diligence Checklist -Buy Box Checklist There is no reason to recreate the wheel.

I would speak with them prior to buying anything if it was me.

I’d like to buy the place, renovate it, and then live in it for a few years as my primary while renting out the 2/1, and then ultimately selling or renting out the main house too. wondering what the best purchase strategy would be considering I don’t have the full purchase price in cash on hand?

The flip side is that it is also very competitive to buy.

They buy properties, do not know the area put substandard upgrades in the property then sell them for market value or try to and the property sits for a long time.