I would focus on the house hack and not take a pay cut.

I have excellent credit and good paying job approval will not be a problem. 

The garage and the fact that a long term tenant was in place paying market rent.

From what I've seen in this area right now, it seems like you'd have a hard time paying market LTR rents and making a good spread. 

If you have a great-paying, long-term tenant, a small discount can actually save you money in the long run.

It may sound nice to pay a 6% management fee but the extra fees can add up to be more than the other company that charges 10% with no additional fees.

If it is not adding up, and you can find an attorney specializing in that type of thing, it may be worth paying for a little of their time.

Cash flow is defined as the money left over after paying for all expenses, including setting aside a certain amount to cover projected expenses like maintenance, vacancies, or capital expenditures.EXAMPLE:Property Price: $250,000Down Payment (25%): $62,500Loan Amount: $187,500Interest Rate: 6.5%Loan Term: 30 yearsMonthly Mortgage Payment: $1,185Monthly ExpensesMortgage Payment: $1,185Property Taxes: $250Insurance: $100Maintenance (10% of rent): $250Vacancy and CapEx (20% of rent): $500Rental IncomeMonthly Rent: $2,500Total Expenses: $2,285Cash FlowNet Cash Flow: $215 per month 💰However, there are many other factors to consider.

You might not cash flow right away, but even just offsetting what you were paying in rent while building equity, getting tax benefits, and learning how to be a landlord is a game changer.

On the other hand, when you design strategically for a specific type of guest, they’ll not only pay your desired rate but also return and recommend your property.I go deeper into this on BiggerPockets Episode 933, but I completely understand if not everyone finds this info relevant.