We've lived in over 10 homes while raising our 3 children that we improved and sold.

Our children are at $100 and $63/month passive income on the homes that will eventually be their first rental properties!

I began by wanting 5 residential units so each of my children could have one and then there would be one for me to retire on.

Woman #1 was the mother of his two children, though they split five years ago (but during covid she and the two kids were living with him and woman #2...).

BUT we aren't alleging either that we have 38 children, that we're both half Native American, or that one of us served in a war that ended before either of us were born.

House hacking with two children can be tougher than expected because you will always need to take a larger or the largest unit which will reduce your cash flow on the property even more.

Raised the 25% down payment through a partnership with family members (my parents and my two oldest children).

That's a factor to consider if you have children and want them to be in a good school district.  

But, i do have a couple of LLC's, mainly for transferring property to children or spouse when I drop dead. 

fyi, one of my children (also in Indiana) had a very good experience with a VA loan through Veterans United.If you can find a tenant who wants to be rural and have space but doesn't have a down payment or for some other reason doesn't want to buy or can't buy, that person could be an excellent fit for your situation.