If real estate is just a side gig and finding deals is tough right now, it might make sense to hold onto cash and wait for a better buying opportunities.2.

So if you say got a 2-family in one of these towns, you could live in one side and then short- or mid-term rent the other side and max your income out there to pay down your mortgage.

@Randall AlanHi sir yes im looking to house hack and hold thank you for the advice i definitely will hold until interests rates cool a little!

Long-term rentals are much more difficult today, but that doesn't mean they are dead.

If you cannot delay gratification, you are unlikely to be successful in anything because most things in life that are deeply satisfying - getting fit, getting an advanced education, moving deeply through a career, achieving financial success, etc - takes a lot of time and effort and requires sacrificing many short-term niceties and pleasures for long-term achievement. 

As a somewhat new GC here in Sevier county, I am building to hold and building to sell. 

Well, history shows what happened both in terms of marginal tenants ultimately getting hurt (as did many landlords) and the Supreme Court ruling the Eviction Moratorium as unconstitutional.I see the whole idea of rent control, which is just another form of government invasion for political hopes, being bad for everyone. 

You need a correct short term rental policy.

That is what I am uncertain about but know I have to be prepared for it in terms of the hidden costs beyond the external fixes for the property.

It's usually used for short term purposes.