The fix-up and increased value will not matter to the IRS as long as you sell within a reasonable time frame of the house passing into the estate.

Here’s a streamlined perspective:Your current approach, putting more down upfront, minimizes risk, increases cash flow faster, and allows you to build equity while reducing overall interest.

Assuming you have 5 units, each worth 300K, and you could afford the loss of one, but not all.

Sometimes cities will allow this, but it depends on local zoning rules.If neither option works, it might be worth consulting a real estate attorney to explore your options.

My plan for this year is improve my credit, get my real estate license (to increase my income on top of my W-2), possibly career transition into the property management space (to learn more), and save as much as possible and learn as much as I can.I’d love to house hack close to home but my area is so expensive it seems like it’d be close to impossible. 

That being said, I have no idea what the land by the airport is worth or what they will be able to do with it. 

I find that most of the time, paying points up front isn't worth it in the end.

I also kept my first home and it is paid off now and worth approximately $150k, with current renters. 

My professional background is data science / analytics, which means analyzing cash flows will probably come more naturally than building relationships, which apparently, is how one finds deals worth making.Are there meetups in these areas I should attend (digitally at first, presumably)? 

Anyone have recommendations on ones that are actually worth it and have helped you or others you know.