The area you're targeting might be too small for anyone to be able to provide any detailed insight.

My advice would be to start small and do your research.

If you are looking for more appreciation and can afford to cover a few hundred dollars a month of negative cash flow then I'd recommend looking at Gilbert.

Unlike a mortgage the interest on your loan will not be tax deductible.

I recommend that you find a trusted or recommended Mortgage Loan Originator (MLO), who can give you options for property-based loans (mostly investment loans) and they don't use your taxes but the P&L of the property.

The institutional firms that do this type of lending (we deal with them every day) have to "securitize" the loans...meaning have their hedge fund/Wall Street backer bless the deal.

That all makes sense to me but it makes me wonder how can you be "financially free" or even just start building wealth if you are 100's of thousands of dollars in debt at all times.

Imagine a 4bed/2bath home with a small ADU in back, a converted garage with a private entrance, or a three-level home with a basement that can be converted into a private apartment.You can get privacy and house hack, but it takes a little more effort.

Quote from @Austin Brummett: I wouldn't do anything right now except continue to save and learn, because you are likely moving soon.Lenders usually want to see two years of employment history, so you won't qualify for a loan any time soon.

The SST doesn't apply for legal 2-flats so if you want to use FHA it's probably better to target those that maybe also have a non-conforming basement or attic unit.This is why the 5% down conventional loan is a game changer for house hackers.