I think it's a tool you should not count out if it means a tenant leaves in a month vs 6.

Umbrella Policies are good, but they are not an asset protection tool, they only cover litigation/damages after you’re already in litigation or found personally liable.

If it's not feasible due to circumstances I suppose I'll have to adjust my situation (find weekend job, move back to NJ with parents, move to a different state with, etc.)All responses are appreciated, and I am absolutely open to chatting on the phone by the way.My view on house hacking is it can be a great tool to buy a house you could not  otherwise afford, but it shouldn’t be a goal in it of itself if that makes sense and that’s not to discourage you from investing just there are alternatives such as the stock market. so I’d start by asking where you want to live, do you want to own a single family home or does it make more sense to rent in a more interesting neighborhood like Arlington, Alexandria, that’s gonna be a personal choice, Will your monthly payment actually be less than renting/how many people do you need to get in the house to afford that?

Instead of tying up your retirement funds, tapping into financing specifically designed for real estate investors can keep your portfolio diversified and your retirement intact.Leveraging your 401(k) is your personal decision, but framing it within the broader context of balancing risk, liquidity, and opportunity cost can clarify whether it’s the best tool for your goals.

What tools can we use to analyze the rental potential in other neighborhoods?

Tools like QuickBooks or even a simple spreadsheet can help you mentain compliance and prepare for audits.Reinvest WiselyScaling a short-term rental business often requires reinvestment in marketing, property upgrades, or even hiring help.

It's been a great tool so far.

Once the above skills and tools are acquired, understanding the sequential process of the development along its timelines and costs needs to be correctly implemented.

And diversification is a powerful tool in risk mitigation.  

DealMachine is a powerful tool for real estate investors, especially for finding off-market deals through driving for dollars.