Smaller investors (1-20 individually owned or with a spouse) might find the same tax benefits and better service for much less by going with a smaller firm. 

Or better yet, seek out a non-recourse loan if you can find one.

Use these numbers to get an idea for which area you will see a better return on to help you focus.

An experienced investor that has flipped hundreds of houses in a market, will likely get better pricing than a new investor and have completely different labor prices/SKUs they use.So really it's best to use our estimate templates as a starting point to help you get started. 

Are you busy and looking to get better returns more passively?

My questions to you: (1) are the better avenues than house hacking SFR or (1-4) multifamily properties for me to get started?

@Erica Schubach I would say if you have a HOA, it all depends on their regulations, but from what i have seen most HOA in Kansas City area or the cities that are better areas like Lee's sunmit, overland park, they prohibit short term rentals, plus the rules of condo are much more complicated and more strict than single families or townhouses.

This has been a journey for me and just want to make sure to stick with it and sort of clean up my portfolio for the better so we can see positive cash flow.

Better now then later anyways lol.

Most important in both cases is having an LTV of 80 or better, a good fico score, and a DSCR of 1.00+