Ideally broken down to the city at bare minimum, but even neighborhoods or zip codes would be even better. 

Having the GC or someone else upload photos/video after each stage would be ideal.

Yes, House Hacking seems like the most ideal option when considering my first investment (open to other forms of ownership, such as live-in flips as well).

You would be leveraging more which doesn't seem ideal for you. 

That being said, 20% down would be ideal to make the rate and pricing reasonable. 

There is something to be said for knowing your ideal avatar, but you are taking on a lot more red tape and a lot less learning possibility.When you are a non-local investing out of your area, you are a mark for every deal out there.

Ideally, I'd like to live in the property for 1-2 years, and keep it as a long-term rental property when I move out.

I think waiting until October or November would be ideal.

I do think the ideal first-time rental is a four unit that you can live in and rent the other three units out, but those can be harder to find.

Ideally AI could improve the property analytics that shape listing prices, a competitive advantage over other brokers.