Definitely not clueless just watching the game from the sidelines.

Play games.

Best to call city hall for the town you are buying in to see what if any rent control rules are in place. see link below if you require additional information and call the Jersey City Landlord Tenant relations office. https://www.jerseycitynj.gov/cityhall/HousingAndDevelopment/...Jersey City CPI chart on recommended rent increases: https://cdnsm5-hosted.civiclive.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server...The state with the highest eviction rate in the country right now is South Carolina. 

I am new to the game and using the FHA loan has just seemed to be the most common way to house hack (at least in terms of what the resources I have read have said). 

(the tenant is question was also leaving a hall window in apartments open in my case). 

I am playing a long game.

It could take years of sacrifice and saving to get into this game and most people don't want to wait that long.  

Your story proves that being in the game creates opportunities you can’t plan for.

Do you have a particular system or software that’s been a game-changer for you?

Then connect with some hard money lenders (you can find some here on BP as well as some who are typing this right now) and connect with them to understand their product type, what they like to lend on and requirements.Hard money broker is all numbers game of making relationships and helping those that are looking for financing, it starts out slow but if you get with a few good borrowers and lenders it can be pretty decent money to be made.As an example we paid six figures last year to HM brokers.