@Mao Pmn Looks like you only budgeted 3% for vacancy, if it were me I'd up that to 8% which would give you about 1 month's rent saved up every 12 months (1/12 = 8.33%).

First, is it a very significant part of your retirement savings?

Ideally a duplex or single family ADU so I can start cutting my costs to save money faster for the second house.I'd love to hear from experienced investors looking back on their first property.

Ultimately, it boils down to who you know.

My stay at the current place is nearing its end and I'm unsure if it's smarter to buy another primary residence and house hack or just buy another rental with the cash I have saved up and find something else to rent. 

Ultimately, a better W-2 will get you the best bargaining position for future deals, so that is what you ought to focus on.

So # 3 got the spot and mr board member was back on the waiting list as  #1, then I was ultimately bumped back to 3rd.

Hi everybody.Maybe I'm a dummy but could you explain the Financing thing to me.Let's say I save $10k.

I would keep the property and keep my prop 13 protected property tax saving and leverage its equity for the necessary improvements as a minimum. 

You'd be saving the $1300 a month in CC debt, and think about the higher interest rate you'd be paying on the a new mortgage because of your lower credit score.