My primary goal is to net zero with house hacking, renovate to appreciate, and refinance after a year, pulling built renovation/sweat equity.

The goal of this format is to provide an informal but regular space for conversation, peer-to-peer conversations and sharing of resources and best practices.

Even if the FHA program doesn't work out, they have other programs/products that'll be right for you and your goals. 

If the two of you were simply individuals owning the property as tenants in common and neither of you owned more than 50% of the entity then you could make the case that it was not a related party transaction.My fear is that if audited the exchange would fail due to the closeness of the related transaction. 

Common sense would say that's also super cheap money right now. 

My goal is to establish valuable relationships with key players in the area, including agents, property managers, and contractors.

A lot of it comes down to your goals and financial situation. 

buy a used coin op laundry machine and a used quarter exchange machine. you could get both for under 2k Washer/Dryer and exchanger.as far as servicing, anyone who can swap out a light fixture could maintain the entire unit with a little youtubing.I find more issues with card systems, esp if they are in the basement of a building, wifi, and card reading tend to be the most common. 

Consult a mortgage broker to navigate the financing process and provide personalized advice based on your financial goals and circumstances.By understanding the factors impacting your ability to secure financing for a multi-family property and exploring alternative options, you can work towards achieving your real estate investment goals.

As far as deal vetting goes, you have to determine what your goal is or what metric you are looking for.