There are probably as many multis in my area that aren't legal as there are legal, but it can add logistical and sometimes expensive challenges.

Are you looking for single-family, multi-family, buy and hold, flip, house hack??

I'm looking at a deal in Baldwin Park, CA for a 26 unit multi-family home.

As is comparing a person with an MBA from Devry that took them 10 years to get while their parents paid their way well into middle age; it isn't exactly the same as a person who has made a million bucks on his or her own. 

Are there any good check lists for inspections on multi-family properties?

I was interested in a property (my first multi-family) and my realtor at the same told me she attempted to contact the selling agent but received no response and left it at that. 

I am actively looking to use the cash-out funds for an investment property (SFH or multi family) and am excited to build my portfolio.Hoping this story helps anyone out there looking for their 1st deal!

But it's a big wheel with billions of cogs that live a life of glorified indentured servitude.

This would either be living in a home that you can rehab as you live there (preferably for 2 years for the home gain exclusion so you never have to pay tax on the gain up to $250k or $500k if filing joint taxes) OR buying a multi-unit property and living in one of the units and renting the other ones (you can get conventional residential financing up to 4 units). 

Probably a different story if you're focusing on large multi unit deals though.