In the city of Racine, I have noticed the the property values are low compared to the amount of rent you can receive.

City won't let you rent out basement, but owner can live in basement.It may suck for 1-2 years, but then you'll have gained so much knowledge you can do better on the next one!

As for the area I am thinking of doing my area of San Antonio and nearby cities.

With several large universities, including the University of Pennsylvania, Temple University, and Drexel University, the city has a steady stream of students and young professionals looking for rentals.

You can probably find some around DFW in some of the outer cities for around $250,000, so 1031 the ones with the most equity into more properties with chances for more appreciation.One thing I would suggest is not to buy NEW from the big production builders. 

Their units have exceeded expectations over the past two years.Danbury should be fine for house hacking with having a larger number of mulitfamily properties within the city.

@Madison SloanTo start house hacking, focus on saving for your down payment, researching target markets like Salt Lake City or North Idaho, and building a strong team of professionals, including an agent and lender.

.- Cities like Toronto will levy another tax (Vacant Home tax) equivalent to 1% of the current assessed value of the property if the property is not occupied (rented, owner-occupied, family occupied, all count as occupied)- Land Transfer Tax: while the Province of Ontario charges anywhere between 0.5 - 2% of Land Transfer Tax when your transaction closes, you should expect to pay this amount twice if the property is in the City of Toronto .

The City is willing to look the other way as long as your contract is written a certain way.

I plan to visit all three cities soon to get a feel for each one, but when should I start building my team and actively searching for deals?