By owning a multi family, you will be building equity while your tenants will be subsidizing your monthly living expenses.This strategy may not work great in Boston due to astronomical prices, but many of the surrounding areas would work well (Quincy, Malden, Everett, Chelsea, Braintree, Melrose, etc.).

Your best option is to find an experienced partner.Your CapEx budget will be astronomical. 

(as long as they aren't astronomical of a difference). 

The ROI you can achieve by doing owner-occupied purchases (house hacking) is astronomical, mostly because it requires so little of your own money.

For the most part, Government has turned a blind eye towards helping rental owners in spite of the truely astronomical costs to fully remove the lead. 

You won't find them willing to pay astronomical list prices for 2-4 units like they do today. 

This is assuming the amount of repairs needed isn't astronomical.

I am told that although I do not owe the debt because it was released in the bankruptcy, the bank still holds the lien and they won’t release the lien unless I pay the debt-plus an astronomical amount of fees and interest.  

Isn’t that astronomical? 

It’s practically impossible to get someone on a weekend without paying astronomical prices so unless it’s a emergency I’m not sending a handyman out.