Great choice of market. 

You have a choice to get 100% (or 50% equity) before crash, or hold it long term.

Since you are focusing on 30+ days walk into the lobby of an extended stay hotel (Homewood Sweets, Extended Stay America, Choice Hotels with Extended stay etc.) and look for the reader boards.

I was able to withhold less from my W-2 income in anticipation of these savings, providing me cash flow in my pocket each time I got my paycheck.It could be beneficial to engage an accountant to help you assess the cash flow and determine if you are maximizing potential cashflow derived from taxes!

Another thing is a small detail like who pays the ACH fee can be a choice to go to you or tenant.

The experience you gain from house hacking or living in a multifamily property will provide you with insights that will be beneficial when you scale up.Financial Considerations: Make sure to weigh the financial implications of both routes.

The people you surround yourself with will either propel you or hinder you, the choice is ultimately yours to make.

We manage our lives and finances , make good choices .

I am in the camp that anyone can be found rather easily but it's a choice of your comfort level and what your desired outcome is.  

Specifically, I'm wondering about the best first steps for education and whether getting a real estate license would be beneficial.