Replaced carpets with laminate floor ~$5k installed (I assumed hard woods would be too nice for house price and we have a dog + new twin babies)3.

What is the first baby step you could take towards your dream?  

sorry for the late reply. had a baby in the meantime lol. i wrote in the thread my experience so far. i'm leaning towards the naca loan for my first multi family property, i just don't know if it's the greatest idea because of its restrictions. but, for no downpayments or closing costs, it would help me get my feet wet much quicker. do you have any other financing options you have pursued or researched?

You're not entirely off-base with your idea on shorting the market, offering rates substantially lower than your competitors due to your less-desirable area - you will unquestionably find those people who's single point of concern is price, so you'll be able to capitalize on that.

“Passive real estate investors—think young professionals with well-paying day jobs or baby boomer homeowners flush with home equity wealth—in high-priced housing markets are looking beyond their backyards for real estate investing opportunities in lower-priced markets.”Florida, with 366,000 investment homes, leads states with the most homes owned by out-of-state investors.

So you may think your baby (deal) is the cutest but to every else...it's just another droolin' kid.3.)

I came here as a baby from Greece, and I also lived there from 2000-2007.

I took a course in 2016 and tried to get some deals done while working full time with a baby.

The goal is to AirBNB the basement while I live in the main 2 levels and save up some money and then move out in 3- 5 years into another property and turn this one into a full-time rental property (baby steps). 

Family - My wife, baby (on the way) and family rely on me.