Quote from @Ryan Mcpherson: Moved to Austin for work and purchased a home in 2021 with just under 4% interest rate.

What interest rate are you getting?

I don't do this for a living and have no real world experience, but at 40% down, even with a 7% int rate, that seems like a high monthly payment.

While rates can be higher, they are efficient for temporary needs.2.

Higher interest rates are keeping some buyers out of the market so properties are sometimes sitting for longer or not getting the desired price. 

This is a self directed RRSP or TFSA account that allows you to lend your money out to people with the backing of their mortgage for a high interest rate. 1st, 2nd, 3rd mortgages, down payments, refinances, flipping or renovation money.

Currently living in our home and plan on renting to keep low interest rate while we house hack a duplex to start our investing in real estate.  

Further, running a very quick and simple valuation based on $900 rents, 8% vacancy, 25% op exp margin, and a 9% cap rate, I'm coming up with an ARV of around $83k, so I'd pass if I were you unless you can get a much lower purchase price.

Quote from @Jonathan Chan: What kind of rates are you getting on gap?

Gifting equity in a house may be more trouble than it is worth if you are not near the life-time exclusion1) Potentially having to get the property appraised everytime an equity is gifted2) Having a title company update the title every time3) Exemption of the gift tax return is normally for cash gifts below the annual gift tax exclusion, you may still need to file if you gift non-cash4) If there is partial ownership over several years, having to properly pro-rate certain items such as real estate taxes, mortgage interest and rental income if the property is a rentalBest of luck