If I buy a house hack that needs work that is projected to take 8-9 months and can't reside in the house until it is completed or can only be there between jobs can I still claim it as a primary residence?

Currently listed 2 houses 1.5m each and the market is dead.

Purchase price: $295,000 Cash invested: $22,000 Before moving into this house we had to add piers under the hours as the previous were not grounded with cement.

It’s the business housed inside the building that makes the money.

@Agustin Silveyra have you looked into finding a house hacking agent yet to guide you?

People do not sell houses or properties like they are a commodity.

(They have the deferred maintenance you'd expect after a fixed income senior lived in them for several years, plus smokers, pets)So how do I turn 5 straggling houses into a proper real estate portfolio and well-managed rental business? 

My houses are usually in the $200K-$250K range

A smaller house on the same block sold as a STR this year for $640k, is smaller sf, half the size pool and smaller yard.Trying to put a number to this property, thoughts?

I'm considering purchasing a property in a city where the average household income is around $50k per year, and houses are selling for $250k to $300k.