@Abby H.Shifting from house hacking to small multifamily is a great way to scale, and securing a JV partner is all about networking, credibility, and structuring a win-win deal.

House hacking is a great way to get started.

I kept thinking it would get easier and less nervy as I bought more houses.

For example if the house is worth 400K, but they are willing to sell it for 375k because they are avoiding having to pay 25k in agent fees, then the bank can consider the equity gap as a down payment.

For example, you might choose to take a blanket mortgage covering all properties, BUT perhaps the market softens and later you wish to sell a property.

The market shifts, and properties take longer to rent or sell?

Too far above risk-free HYSA or money market yields. 

Note at “standard” MLS market rent to price ratio, the property tax alone is ~20%.

And you are wondering if you should spend lets say $125,000 on a house you have never seen ? 

If you're purchasing a single family home you can use traditional financing like you probably did on your house or you can do a commercial loan.