I'd start shopping around for terms and building relationships sooner than later. 

Does seasoning start when the property is bought? 

Highly suggest checking out the local meetup groups: https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/521-real-estate-events-...Our monthly meetup is tomorrow, so that might be a great place to start! 

House hacking is the BEST way to get started in real estate investing!

If you're up for some delayed gratification and tax free cash, I think it's a fantastic idea.I would recommend starting with a paint, flooring, kitchen, and bath renovation - more of a cosmetic fixer that can still qualify for conventional financing.

The 70% rule is a good starting point, but also factor in local market trends and high-ROI upgrades like kitchen and bathroom updates, modern flooring, and curb appeal.

I’m not sure you could really scale a STR on Shopify but you could always start there and migrate to another platform. 

"How do I get started in CA?"

I'd recommend starting with books $10-$20 gets you 90% of the info you need.

By purchasing a multi-unit property, living in one unit, and renting out the others, you can cover your mortgage payments and start building equity while gaining rental income.