Choose properties needing minor upgrades to build equity.

Whoever you choose to coach you needs 4 things:1) Need to know what you want to know. 

When someone who is not an electrician wants to do electrical work and you choose that because it's cheaper, don't you already know the answer?

But I also realize many people choose the direction of Appreciation first.In my hometown market (not Pittsburgh, but central NJ area), few small to mid size multi family properties could come close to cash flowing positively.

Use a reputable expert like @Dave Foster and you’ll be covered.

You find the numbers, and strategies that work in any specific market you choose, then wait until a property pops up that meats that criteria, and jump on it."

If you are limited to those areas for residency, and you choose to keep that job, you are going to have to either a) wait for a couple years and save up a heftier down-payment, b) change your strategy like you said and go for houses further away (do flips, STR or BRRR).Or, if you are sold on the house-hack concept, at some point you might have to look at a different job that allows you to move where house-hacking will work....

However, if both are desirable and available in your market, I would definitely choose smaller multifamily (1-4 units) hands down. 

Quote from @Fakaradin Floyd: @John Underwood I would love to do this but where I live sadly there aren't any lower end inexpensive houses I've already tried this and have put in over 5 offers for houses and lost to bidding wars everytime hence why I'm choosing this strategy. 

I choose Italy because I have a few advantages there.