I did condo conversions for 2 years in Columbus Ohio on buildings older than 1950.

We build a stacked triplex in columbus ohio but you could do it anywhere that land makes sense.

Partnering with investors, attending local meetups, and building a strong network would be key steps.

I am currently looking to build a spec home and use my equity to help finance the build.

Quote from @Jaron Walling: @Kane Spangler There's a since of pressure to build or buy RE in your post.

If house hacking isn't the best option for me, how would you recommend starting out to build up some investments.

You'll likely also reduce your cost of living by moving to a stabilized apartment.Depending on the cashflow and debt paydown, you can use this strategy until you've built enough equity to reinvest.On the other hand, getting into a multi-family after refinancing will also help you build substantial equity to rinse and repeat in the coming years.

You are doing the right thing to build relationships first! 

You should reach out to @Melissa Haworth she can get the actual numbers/rents on STRs in the area to help run your comps.Each building is different, each area is different, it is important to find accurate data to make good decisions.

I would not expect a meaningfully lower rate and pmt for likely several years.