SO many more options and the reduced responsibilites and work loads are under valued until you deal with them.. lol Also when you factor in management fees it can be quite comparable in net proceeds, without the wear and tear on the property and furnishings. 

House hacking with an SFDU could be a smart first step since it allows you to reduce your housing costs while building equity.

Just reduce there rent by $5 and they will be happy to do it.

Energy Efficiency ImprovementsInstalling energy-efficient windows, doors, insulation, and HVAC systems can appeal to modern buyers who want to reduce utility bills.

There are several different types of income in the US tax code.Two main types are “active income” and “passive income".Active income is money you earn from working, such as wages from a W-2 job or income from running a business.Passive income is money you earn from investments like real estate, stocks, or rental income from your RE portfolio where you earn $ without actively working.Normally, you can't use passive losses (like losses from real estate investments) to offset active income like your salary from a W-2 job.That is unless you are an RE Pro.The reality is, that Real Estate Pro status is just a filing status similar to filing married or jointly.And if you are a real estate professional you CAN use passive real estate losses to offset active income from other sources.To qualify as an RE Pro you must:1.

As for your neighbors, they could have exemptions like Homestead, widow, military disability and many others that can reduce the amount of taxes.

Showing ID is not only a safety measure for yourself and the other person, it also helps to reduce fraud if someone is unwilling to provide identification and is being this difficult with a simple ask, then I would also question whether or not they would be a good fit as a tenant

I know it seems like a tough task, but can you spend a few more months or a year while you continue to learn to really tighten the budget or find ways to earn a little extra to start from a stronger position?

Normally when a  property is advertised as "cash only" the property is in poor condition and/or the seller wants to reduce contingencies and opts for a cleaner transaction.

David A cost segregation study can be beneficial for properties under $400k by accelerating depreciation to reduce taxable income.