Love that you are coming to the market to interface here, nothing can substitute it in my mind.  

Learning from others is a game-changer.Think Long-TermEven if you can’t house hack yet, that’s okay.

I'm starting to believe that I could be saving some money by doing it that way.

The flexibility, speed, and personalized approach make private money lending a go-to for real estate investors, especially for projects that require quick decisions or more creative solutions.

This strategy identifies components of the property that can be depreciated over shorter timeframes (e.g., 5, 7, or 15 years instead of the standard 27.5 or 39 years).

Finally, are there any resources: podcasts, books, etc. that you'd recommend?

I currently have 2 rentals in the Atlanta area, and for the past 2 years, both have been Section 8 rentals, and I have to say that the experience has not been as bad as the horrors stories I heard.

Quote from @Susan McBride: What are you trying to achieve? 

The problem is that most wholesalers or off-market acquisition folks are being "trained" to follow a script, not solve a problem.

You have a very good balanced approach to getting started and it's great you are prepping for the future.