We aren't really sure what our niche will be, but are ideally looking for a SFH for our first.  

  $300/mo cash flow for a $325k property isn't ideal, but might be worth it if it's appreciating. 

However, most likely interest rates will be going up significantly, so if you sell the bond you may be forced to sell at a discount.If you are willing to hold onto an investment for at least 5 years (longer is ideal) and are comfortable with volatility, index funds might be a good choice for you. 

Chicago is not the ideal market for solar because our electricity is relatively cheap and sunshine days moderate. 

You'll never have the ideal conditions.

Hard to find those ideal duplex buildings under market value in my area.

As far as some general criteria/thoughts:- My workplace is in the Cobb/Vinings area and I would ideally like to be a < 30 min drive to work (though I don't mind if its up to 1 hour away since that is my current commute)- I'm interested in using a FHA loan to put ~5% of a down payment (3.5% down pmt + 1.75% upfront mortgage insurance premium)- My target all-in purchase price range is between 200k - 400k - I would prefer to live in a 'A' or 'B' class property that I could rent another unit to a young or established professional/college or grad student- Just from discussion with my friends, a lot of them seem to dig living in areas like Midtown, Buckhead, Virginia Highlands, Brookhaven, Lindbergh.. how feasible would it be for me to househack in any of those areas and expect to generate a decent return in the future once I move out and rent out my unit?

As I am trying to learn as much as possible, it would seem ideal to work directly with another local investor.

In an ideal situaiton, the house you are proposing to buy will likely cost over 30k in repairs (If you don't believe me, check out the house flipping threads).

I would ideally like to see what would work for all parties involved, so if it sounds like something you may be interested in, send me a message and lets get it going.