The appraisal district shortly thereafter corrected the tax allotment “anomaly” between the two lots, but the investor never made a tax payment and eventually lost the lot to a tax foreclosure.  

All the friends I trust were out of town or married, and I was done living with strangers. 

Since heis a “Cash” taxpayer and not accrual.

I’d rather not do a single family again until my third house - I’m getting married in January and would like to be able to rent it without house hacking :).

The interest on the rental is an offset to rental income, and is by definition deducted from your taxes.A 4% interest rate on a primary is like a 4.88% after rate for a taxpayer in the 22% federal tax bracket, or higher if in a state with state income taxes. 

For starter, I am married to my 9-5 job and looking for a way out.

He isn't married, he doesn't have kids, he doesn't have family values.

Hindsight is 20/20, my husband was house-hacking way back when we first married.

Married Adults + 2 kidsWhat if there is 1 samll dog/cat added to each of the scanarios above?

If you are single or married with a small child, buying a duplex or 4plex should work well.