My focus as of right now will be buy & hold on small multi-family properties.

I really want to house-hack with a multi-family property, but I want to know if I’m wasting my time even considering it given the local market.

You are on the right track!

I went to ASU and also invest myself in multi family and know a lot about the Tempe/ASU SFR market.

Then you can use the money as a down payment on a property; factor 20% for a SFR and 25% down for a multi family (duplex and more)I had $50k in a SDIRA, but found that the hassles of working with lenders in an account like that just wasn't worth it; I rolled it into my current 401k and took a loan against it.But with the amounts you're talking about, you might just be better off taking the hit now but freeing up the capital to work unencumbered with the limitations found in a SDIRA.Just a thought.

Is owner-financing preferable to FHA financing a small multi?  

Having grown up, and now work with a family that owned/owns several multi-family properties I trualy have a grasp of this market and what it has to offer.

No one with a track record of mortgage fraud is getting another mortgage any time soon, purchase or refinance, even if "this time I'm being honest, I promise."

I have 7 multis, and rarely get noise complaints.

What about purchasing a multi-family property (2-4 units)?