There are some expenses (mostly noncash items) that can be added back to your income - depreciation is the most common/well-known.If you have strong revenue and are reporting a lot of expenses to reduce your taxable income, a bank statement loan may be a good option for you.

These can do quite well in the Denver area if well furnished and marketed appropriately. 

Hopefully, this first investment will launch our journey in real estate.Here are some criteria we have in mind:Not in downtown SacramentoClass C+ or B location, since we will be living in one unit (we just want a safe location)Units with shared walls, not ceilingsSeparately meteredFairly renovated or well-maintained (not a fixer-upper, but if one unit is renovated and the others need some work, we would love the experience of fixing and renovating)Can you think of any other factors we should consider?

My last suggestion is building your team is going to be crucial for success so hire a professional property management company as well.

Check out local meetups as well.  

There are a ton of knowledgeable folks on here as well as an abundance of information.  

Might me some tax advantages to this as well.

Your best bet is to build relationships well before asking about investing.

I previously served as counsel at a Hospitality REIT where management was separate but the management was a viable business that managed REIT owned as well as 3rd party hotels.

Does it integrate well with other platforms?