This may not apply in your case, but for many new investors they get so focused on how to become one that they ignore the red flag signs of where extra money has to go in, but they are also told that, as you said, by countless "experts" who aren't there to help them (you), they are there to sell you a class.

Best of luck to you out in beautiful Redding, CA!  

Conventional money is usually burdened with red tape and average pricing for investment properties at best.

Building on the eviction moratorium put in place by the CARES Act, the new relief proposal would enact a year-long ban on eviction filings over nonpayment of rent for all residential tenants, a bold and unprecedented move for the US.

This loan type does have a lot of red tape, but if you approach it methodically and get organized before making an offer, it's quite powerful for house hacking.

- any other major red flags that I see with the tenants and the property inhabitants in generalAll of those should be pretty easy to see even if you do not have much experience and your agent may even be able to fill in the gaps for you.

BE BOLD

The first big red flag I see here is your expenses.

So things that are a red flag for me may be fine for someone more aggressive.

Saying you pulled it out to buy a property and were effected would set off some red flags.