This job took us about 9-10 months if I remember correctly.

GC walked off the job.

I acquire properties for my brokerage to wholesale so the software can help me in my job and personally.

I learned enough (in summary) what they needed to do their job in getting my funding to make it easier on myself.

I would focus on getting a solid job/career then going into a house hack. 

This is where people fly in, this is where jobs and internships are, and it's central to the entire Triangle.

A client of mine recently invested there and raves aboutt the ease of finding solid contractors who stick to the budget.One piece of advice: before jumping into any market, spend time understanding the local economy, demand drivers (like job growth and population trends), and the landloard laws.

This is the reason I quit being a moderator because of something that went mildly off the rails in the forums, and then it was completely censored because I responded to staff in the forums after they mentioned me.I think the moderators do an amazing job and should be given more pay or credit or anything.

You may also want to check the Columbus OH market - great macroeconomics with lots of job and population growth along with major companies developing here that drive strong rental demand. 

@Nick WimmelYou can get decent cash flow and demand for rentals is likely to stay strong in the area given the proximity to major job centers in Cincinnati and Dayton