Covering the mortgage isn’t an issue, but I’m considering factors like: Multi-Family: House hacking would help offset costs right away, but I’d likely need to put money into renovations upfront.Single-Family: Easier move-in with no immediate renovations needed, plus potentially lower tenant turnover once I rent it out For those who have been in a similar situation, what did you choose and why?

The money borrowed from your equity comes with interest, then you have the new mortgage with interest.

If you think you can manage a mortgage, taxes, insurance and the upkeep of a home while paying your student loans then buying is not  bad idea but if you think you will overstretch yourself renting is nto bad either.

Rather than paying for childcare services from a large organization, we found that it was significantly cheaper to pay for a second mortgage than to pay for childcare.

Its great for me where I need to adjust to paying a mortgage and was worried about my monthly payment a little bit! 

The rental income from the first home will pay for the mortgage/monthly costs.  

Mortgage notes at 12% with no headaches are the way to go.

Credit scores for 80% LTV also are higher-usually around a 720 minimum for the middle mortgage FICO score. 

$6000 is a large mortgage to cover for a vacancy. 

I hired my own expert and discovered these issues did not exist but that the expert the 3 buyers had brought in wanted to be hired to do the work so they blew them out of proportion.