I understand moving out of your home and occupying a unit in a duplex may be the best financial decision but make sure it’s the best decision for your family because transitioning from a single family house to an apartment with a family of 4 is not always the easiest transition.

Life is financially good even without doingSelf Storage.

Hi @Joshua Manier,**I'm not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned**Your strong financial profile and low LTV puts you in a great position!

You can bypass the longer seasoning requirement with a debt service loan. 

@Ming HuangRecommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a property in Class D area to Class A standards, what quality of tenant will you get?

I was a SWO for 8 years, and the best thing I did to improve my financial life was real estate investing. 

@Robert BishopTo prepare for your first real estate investment, build a strong financial foundation with a credit score of 700+ and an emergency fund.

I would underwrite buyers based on stability of income, financial payment history & ability to pay.

Taking out more debt does not sound like the best option IMO.

Alternative Lenders – Look for private lenders or debt funds that focus on asset-based lending rather than borrower experience.