I made a plan to pay them off within 4 years but I will leave me little room to save for my first property.

You do have to hold the investment for ten years to recieve the full benefit but it worth it if you save 100% of the capital gains tax.

I know you have to live in each for at least a year but I should have enough saved to where I can shortly make a down payment on another property regardless of needing to stay in the first home. 

@Nerissa Marbury This is what you have capex savings for.

Save a good cash position while you are out here. 

They both had money saved & our corp financed the balance @ AFR's. 

I don’t have a whole lot of spare time, and I don’t have savings.

The other strategies for being able to purchase more units is entirely up to you, what are you willing to do to earn and save more money?

And you can save and invest that money in the mean-time.And when it comes right down to it, if you can house-hack for less money than you pay in rent it's a good deal.Good luck to you.

I am wondering about saving time in terms of cleaning.