They can both be great paths to wealth over time but you are comparing apples to oranges .

The BIG difference is that Im a true novice compared to the time and effort of wall street investing.  

Hey Matthew, I saw that you'd need to compare your options, there are plenty of places with great renter populations and high job/wage growth.

With a good agent on your side, you're well on your way.I stress the importance of teeing yourself up for success prior to swinging, because if done right, house hacking can be one of the best ways to launch yourself towards financial freedom. 

This one irks me a bit because the paint on the walls is actually builder primer and they required us to wash all walls prior to move out.

Understand the fees involved and calculate the total cost for an entire year of management so you can compare the different managers.

The owner, Kevin, is prior (maybe even retired?)

And of course mortgage foreclosures are more expensive and take longer in mortgage states compared to deed of trust states..

The prior owner vacated the property months ago and it's untenable as the water has been turned off for months too.

if yes compare with your current lender see which route will benefit.