@Duke Butterfield no one can really answer whether or not real estate is a good choice for you - except YOU!

It's personal choice. 

I also agree that networking with brokers is useful, I was a broker for 15 years, but the choice isn't between networking with brokers or joining a mastermind to network with investors.

I'd prefer 30 year fixed rate debt at 7% over this arrangement unless there is something that I am missing.

My market is San Diego so I do not have direct referral for a GC in north Hollywood but I will say my preferred way to get contractors is direct referral.

Or if you prefer one deposit account bam!

Knowing my situation, if my wife and I were doing something like this, I'd be OK with buying something sooner and cheaper, but my wife would prefer to wait a little longer to save more to buy something nicer.

The company that did the repair is their "preferred" vendor for these things which in itself is not sketchy, but I don't think there is a way for me to know if it is a friends company or something.

If it's not feasible due to circumstances I suppose I'll have to adjust my situation (find weekend job, move back to NJ with parents, move to a different state with, etc.)All responses are appreciated, and I am absolutely open to chatting on the phone by the way.My view on house hacking is it can be a great tool to buy a house you could not  otherwise afford, but it shouldn’t be a goal in it of itself if that makes sense and that’s not to discourage you from investing just there are alternatives such as the stock market. so I’d start by asking where you want to live, do you want to own a single family home or does it make more sense to rent in a more interesting neighborhood like Arlington, Alexandria, that’s gonna be a personal choice, Will your monthly payment actually be less than renting/how many people do you need to get in the house to afford that?

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