Hmmmmmmmm but no concern on count down to get far away from this unlovely, and un- cared for place.

I also understand the concern about borrowing 100% of transaction costs.

There are other concerns with this approach, but 50% down on a ready to go $150k rental in a cheaper area?

Our bigger concern is how might we get our money from the guy?

Both strategies offer valuable lessons, but the last thing you want is for a beginner to overleverage themselves and take on more than they can handle.

I could see this being a bit overwhelming as a beginner with a bunch of units to manage on the top of trying to learn.

What are your thoughts,  my concerns that they already have 

Professional staging, virtual tours, and high-quality photos can help them envision how the space fits their lifestyle, whether it’s for entertaining, work, or family.To overcome the “biggest house in the neighborhood” concern, shift the focus to its uniqueness and lifestyle potential.

My main concern about actual house hacking for a few years in a row is that we don't want the kiddos to have to change schools once we relocate up there.I'm thinking about getting an appreciation-oriented duplex/triplex in a pricier market with good schools that we could stay in for several years, and saving for an actual cashflow property that'd we buy as an investment property instead of a house hack.

For the issue itself, the crack isn't necessarily my biggest concern, but the displacement of the foundation is what worries me.