While we're sacrificing space(downsizing) and comfort-ability, we know this move will help accelerate our goals as we'll be able to focus our savings to other properties.

Yes it may be sacrificing less work but is it something you can do later.

I know I would have paid for my student loans and the rest I might have sacrificed to the might deity called 'Rat Race', which really wouldn't have been much better. 

Even then, I question if it would be worth sacrificing three years of my life or even all that beneficial for real estate investing.

The live in flip scenario was the most accessible way for me, and being as you're still young, it's worth sacrificing some time, house hacking a bit, living for free, getting a taste of renovating a home, and then continuing your journey from there. 

We obviously want to keep costs down, but not at the cost of sacrificing asset protection, tax optimization, etc. 

I agree with @Jordan Moorhead -going east- particularly southeast now will get you in at a lower price point but is likely to see accelerated appreciation in a few years' time, and without sacrificing cashflow. https://www.kxan.com/news/loca...https://www.kxan.com/news/business/velocity-mixed-use-development-in-southeast-austin-prepares-to-break-ground-in-early-2021/Many of us are seeking ways to stay in Austin but lower the cost of acquisition with creative financing, jvs, etc.

As mentioned I sacrificed my privacy for building up equity and did a 3.5% down doing an FHA loan doing a 15 mortgage.

I teach people how to put systems in place to bring down the time commitment without sacrificing returns. 

However, I prefer to do that without sacrificing cash flow.