Universities, flight schools, HR departments for corporate housing, military bases, etc... the list is actually pretty long. 

Since my strategy would definitely involve house hacking, I was thinking about house hacking with a mixed-use property.It could be interesting to evaluate as a strategy, but only if I can access financing with a low downpayment.How would that work from a financing standpoint?

Consider house hacking to cover mortgages.

Lots of electrical wires still on the poles waiting to service houses that could be built there. 

I had my realtor set up a search for assumable loans, and found a property in Aubrey TX with an assumable VA loan.

Thinking of converting this loft space into a functional bedroom to make it a 5 bed 2 bath house for equity. 

Potential Advantages- Growing Housing Market: The median home price in Shelby has increased by 16.6% year-over-year, reaching $295,000 as of July 2024.

If your mom is ok with you owning half the house but not putting any money down then you should be fine.  

After securing the deal, the buyer made my wife and I go through three-feet deep of snow to "winterize" the house so there wouldn't be any plumbing issues.It was a 2 hour drive there, and a 2 hour drive back.So much time and effort put into it for only $4k...

I have been a landlord in New Jersey in the student housing sector for over 15 years.