I'll let others chime in on their experiences, but from a motivational perspective, I think attending live events and getting the "conference high" is something that only happens through in-person connections and being in the same room with investors who are eagerly pursuing their real estate/financial goals. 

Relocate existing kitchen to living space."

GeGe property i have both in jacksonville Florida but i live in Palm bay Fl so it like 3 hr away ....     

I'm imagining something more like add a wall, turn a bedroom into a kitchen-living on one side and a formal dining room into a bedroom on the other side, maybe add a half bath in each unit.

Kyle  My father-in-law did this by creating a portfolio that is primarily debt-free single-family rentals in the city he lives in.

If you go into Central or South Scottsdale (Old Town) $1M will buy you a smaller, older home, OR half of a big, remodeled home (as alot of the Arcadia and Old Town area are turning over old small homes to be big beautiful homes in the $2.5M range and higher).There are options.....for both buying and renting, that would work with your situation.By the way....it's 51 degrees in North Scottsdale right now where I live. 

I would pull a FHA loan for $665,000 and live in one side and rent the other side out to a family member for $2,000 a month.

Hey @John FriendasI have purchased 4 of my Co-Living (rent by room) properties with DSCR, 1 of them within the last few months.Not that I necessarily recommend this, but there are short-term-rental DSCR products.

I live in Phoenix AZ, where we take our pool safety very seriously, as kids die every year in pools because it's warm and they swim much of the year. 

In this case, you can use Rental Income from the units that you will not be living in and that income can count to help you qualify.FHA rates are going to be lower than conventional for you almost always, but FHA does have a 1.75% funding fee.