House hacking is a great way to get started.

I bought 14 houses basically for free by harvesting the equity in my houses by doing 5 cash out refis.

Even in housing.  

Seller purchased in Sept 2022 for $274K, leaving room for a "win/win."

The Yale Law Journal article, "Zoned Out: How Zoning Law Undermines Family Law’s Functional Turn," highlights this issue, noting that while family law has evolved to recognize diverse family structures, zoning laws have lagged behind, potentially hindering innovative housing solutions like co-living.Challenges for Co-Living InvestorsFor real estate investors interested in co-living, these restrictive definitions can lead to:Legal Barriers: Difficulty obtaining permits or approvals for co-living spaces due to non-compliance with traditional family definitions in zoning codes.Operational Challenges: Potential fines or legal disputes arising from housing arrangements that don't conform to local zoning definitions of a household.Market Limitations: Reduced ability to meet the growing demand for affordable, shared housing solutions.Advocacy for ReformThe Bloomberg article, "Why Are Zoning Laws Defining What Constitutes a Family?"

I had a rental house that burned down. 

I bought my first house 2 years ago for 255k 20% down at 6.375% APR.

If you are just getting started here in Chicago, house hacking is the ideal situation.

I am ok and usually do leave some of my money in a refi.

It's an acreage property near the lake that has a main house (2/1), guest house (3/2), and small studio-layout unit (3 units on same property).