My in laws lost their entire retirement savings because their underwriting was too aggressive and they bought several properties most of which ended up with negative cash flow.I am not against refinancing or using a HELOC to buy a property, but The market right now is a property will give you close to zero cash flow (80% down) then you’ll need to come up with another $750 a month to pay down the HELOC and come up with probably another 5-10k in reserves in case the furnace breaks or tenants trash your house or…   Without knowing your financially situation, You are probably better off getting a second job for a year or two to save up for a downpayment then using a Heloc.

Would I be better off waiting until the 6 month mark or later to do the refi?

Better safe than sorry.  

Is it better to create a new EIN or is it better to create a TIN or just use my personal SSN?

There would be no tenants I would have to deal with, only setting up a date for renters to move their stuff in and out.I'm also wondering if it would be a better idea to rent out the entire basement, or break it up into smaller rentals (i.e. a 30x30 space or a bunch of 10x5 spaces etc.)I'm imagining there is a market for people who need to store boxes for a quick move etc., but I can't imagine one person filling the entire basement so that's why I'm considering breaking it up if possible.

Quote from @Michael Smythe: @Keren Mayorov be sure to speak with @Engelo Rumora and @James Wise Thanks for the mention mate.G'Day Keren,Toledo, Ohio rentals are our bread and butter.Others on the forum are better suited to assist you with the Cleveland market.Wishing you much success 🙏

Grasping the macroeconomic narrative, identifying opportunities in emerging markets, and keeping a pulse on real estate dynamics stand out as critical maneuvers.

LLC has more tax treatment options (taxed as a sub S) and better protection than a land trust, if managed correctly.

My questions to you: (1) are the better avenues than house hacking SFR or (1-4) multifamily properties for me to get started?

There's no such thing as a "deal" when it comes to STRs in the resort towns, but it is a better time than late fall/winter when the ski season is ramping up and the Airbnb market makes it more likely for owners to rent instead of sell.