With my mortgage eating half of my income, it sounds crazy to take a second one. 

Take notes from a few people who tell you how to bake a cake, go eat some cake and get your own ideas.  

Print them off, study them, highlight them, make notes, read some blog posts, and understand the subject.The second document he links includes precise definitions and a guide for landlords to use for screening support animals.

Adding amenities like power, water, and a barn or pavilion could increase its value as an event space.Farm-to-Table Experiences: If agriculture is possible, create an on-site farm-to-table business where people can visit, harvest, and eat fresh produce.

looking at your breakdown, the margin leaves very little room for error, especially with holding costs and commissions eating into your profit. 

You’ll eat it on fees with HELOCS on investment properties.

You would need to find a property manager to care for the investment until you return, which will eat into the profits.

Section 8 properties are a different animal than tenants with Section 8 vouchers.Remember, prospective tenants with vouchers can live anywhere. 

Also Since you plan to live there for 3-5 years, it’s easier to manage and maintain, giving you time to learn the ropes of real estate.That said, be mindful of high HOA fees, as they can eat into your margins and affect future cash flow.

With a small portfolio, it will eat away at all your cashflow.