House Hacking is generally the one situation when purchasing an investment property can be done without positive cash flow.

If you are really serious, you could buy a duplex with FHA 203(k) rehab loan, only needing roughly 3% of the purchase+rehab amount.

.: East Bay:- Close to a BART station to traveling medical worker/corporate person could hop on a bus/BART to work: El Cerrito, San Leandro, Hayward, Fremont, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Concord, Dublin, PleasantonI do not recommend purchasing a rental property close to any BART station. 

Here are some key points to consider:Accessibility: Residential properties are often more accessible to individual investors, especially those starting out with smaller capital.Tenant Stability: While turnover can occur, residential leases tend to have shorter terms, offering more flexibility if you want to adjust rents or change tenants.Market Liquidity: Generally, residential properties are easier to buy and sell due to higher demand from individual homebuyers and investors alike.Emotional Appeal: Homes and apartments can have a strong emotional appeal to buyers and renters, which can influence demand and pricing stability.Purchasing: Residential real estate will require a down payment of at least 10% of the purchase price. 

Purchase price: $3,975,000 Cash invested: $1,025,000 FIXER UPPER-Chateau Montclair sits on almost 6 acres & overlooks a 10 acre lake in the new exclusive gated community, The Montclair.

I purchased them several years prior to Covid at a very low price compared to today's market. 

I am open to getting professional help so pleaserecommend any, if possibleHi Jodi..most lenders will require a six month seasoning however it’s possible to use the purchase price and do an immediate cash out refi or first position HELOC.

@Chris Rogers higher interest rates have caused most Class A property purchases to NOT cashflow for an approximate 3-5 years.So, many naive investors are chasing Class B, C & D properties to cashflow, WITHOUT fully understanding the scope of the additional risks involved:(Recommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.So, when investing in areas they don’t really know, investors should research the different property Class submarkets.

We have ~150k equity in our current home and are considering doing a HELOC to either purchase or put a down payment on an investment property.

Make sure to think the entire process through as it may be more advantageous to to it prior to or after the purchase of the other property for your brother.