The Kidde Access Point is the best. https://www.amazon.com/Kidde-AccessPoint-001414-Co...Electronic locks are great, but you'll always want a spare in case the battery dies.

(They have changed the requirements since the last time I took the class)  Now I am working on Unit 2 and steadily filling my spare time with side jobs...

Put a skill to use in some of your spare time, like teaching english or anything else you can come up with.

Out of the ashes I started my own company in my spare bedroom in 2010 with a few 1-4 family homes under management (started property management for others first before scaling my own acquisitions).

Can anyone opine on a good compact w/d combo to look at as well as the hit on my water and electric bill after installation?

If you are handy and have a month of spare time you can surely get the number down. 

Also, I cannot list property as a 3 beds home, but i guess I can say that it has an extra space that can be used as a spare room.

I just started listening to podcasts and use any spare time I have trying to be a student of the game.

Start in your spare time, see how it goes, and see where the potential is for you. 

I’ve been successfully house hacking for the past year, renting out my three spare bedrooms and occupying the fourth, allowing me to live for free since the rent covers my mortgage and utilities.