I might also consider if i could turn the garage into a rental, or into an apartment for me, while renting the other place so that I'd still be on the property at least until I gained confidence in the tenant.

It has gained a lot of interest from millennials and Gen Z in the last few years in particular.

The plan aims to reduce living costs, gain landlord experience, and move closer to long-term financial goals.Good luck!

I am not afraid of the answer keep saving and I’m truly interested in any advice I can gain from everyone here!  

If married you can exclude $250,000 each in capital gains if your primary residence.  

Others may see it differently but I wanted to share as someone that has nothing to gain by sharing or not.

Recommended Long term rentals are the way to go at first, Medium term and short term are strategies to look into though once you gain your bearing.

@Steven DeHart I'd start off listening to the podcasts and gaining as much knowledge as possible.

Not giving tax advise, so check with your CPA, but I sold a rental after it was my primary for over 2 years and as long as it was considered my primary residence "2 of the last 5 years", I did not have to pay capital gains on my property sale up to the IRS limit. 

Mentorship and joint ventures are excellent ways to gain experience, and it’s essential to start small, communicate clearly, and build trust.