I wouldn’t recommend larger projects for starters.

For starters, congrats on getting things moving, Jeff, and I'm sorry to hear that family hasn't been all that supportive but a lot of times people fear that which they don't know; since it sounds like many of them don't have experience in REI, it is easy to think of the ways in which it could fail especially when they haven't been versed in the different success metrics and strategies for succeeding long term. 

You can look me up over at LinkedIn/ or FB for starters since you can't put e-mail addresses or phone numbers in these messages.Ontwon Smith

You name it.... when reimbursement is involved, especially from the government, there is going to be fraud.I rent to Section 8, but all my tenants are from the Los Angeles homeless incentive program and/or military veterans.Well for starters make getting disability More difficult for those who can physically work but refuse to .

I'm not exactly sure of all my goals right now but I do have a few of them for starters:1) I want to own my own real estate wholesaling business.2) I want to close my first deal by the end of this year.3) I would like to eventually own a few rentals... possibly even a mobile home park.I actually found out about biggerpockets because I was reading "The Guide to Real Estate Investing" (Rich dad education) and decided to look up a question online.

I am interested in learning more about buy and holds and flipping houses just for starter.

Basic starter houses are fine just buy in safe areas.

For starters:1) huge capital gain exemption shielding an enormous amount of appreciation2) interest rate deductibility (less effective since the standard deduction went up but still often useful.)3) a federally subsidized secondary market creating loans at right around the cost of inflation .

Those type of properties you might be better off getting a 3.5% interest FHA loan and living there as a starter investment property.

Anyways, Thanks Erin for the conversation starter and I hope those who are interested in just starting out with a house-hack AND STRs will still give it a shot because the upside is so awesome and the downside is you sell the furniture and convert to a LTR.