When I worked in Public Accounting, the firms charged way more than I think they are worth for a small portfolio.

Strict landlord laws and high prices make house hacking tough, especially if you’re planning to leave.Since you’re open to out of state investing, there are plenty of cash flowing, landlord friendly markets worth considering.

That risk, in retrospect, is not worth the potential return.   

There's a lot on the landlord side that you'll want to get caught up on and it will take some time to get your systems right but I think it's worth it.

I’ll be honest it’s not clear to me real estate is necessarily a better investment than say the stock market, certainly not a bad investment but not as hyped as some people make it, you need to decide how much owning your own home is worth to you & also how long you plan to be in the area, if you will be here for the foreseeable future, bite the bullet and buy, if your not sure where you will be in a few years, renting might make more sense.

Liability Protection: Transferring to an LLC provides asset protection but may not always be worth the hassle or cost.Next Steps: Review your loan agreements, consult your lender, and get advice from a real estate attorney and tax pro to ensure everything’s compliant and beneficial.

My last few BRRRRs I ended up with negative equity, even though after a full gut rehab, still worth it in a market full of old houses. 

Live in the multi-family for a year, then move back into your own home and rent out the unit.If if not ideal, it's worth the hassle. 

Make sure you are clear on your objective so they are not showing you deals that are not worth looking at. 

If approved, you’d already be in a position to add units, whereas others might still be navigating the zoning process.That said, rezoning takes time and isn’t guaranteed, so it’s worth weighing the cost, process, and likelihood of approval.