But I strongly urge anyone to always get Aldermanic support before proceeding because it makes life--and the entire project / process--a whole lot easier. :)IN SUM: Based on what you've shared, it sounds like you won't need to rezone if you just want to build a duplex.

My advice: don’t overthink it—your first house hack is about learning, so pick a strong rental market, ensure solid demand, and lock in a deal that gets you close to break-even or better.

Interesting city with a lot of rich history and beautiful architecture. 

Hi @Joshua Manier,**I'm not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned**Your strong financial profile and low LTV puts you in a great position!

@Mitch ProvostFrom my experience of working with over 400 investors, your property near Texas A&M in College Station/Bryan has strong investment potential due to the consistent demand for student housing driven by steady enrollment growth.

I get FinTech is a high-risk activity, but imagine the industry will consolidate to one or a few strong players.

Any recommendations for starting strong would be appreciated. 

This experience has provided me with a strong foundation in acquisitions, valuations, and deal sourcing.

@Lauren MerendinoI strongly believe that your chosen market should be somewhere that you can go to in person / have strong personal knowledge of / have family or a network in already.  

If you are looking at FHA because of credit score, then I would work on credit scores to qualify for conventional financing or see if you can get a very strong coborrower with high scores.