For a reputable builder, ask for recommendations from friends, check online reviews, and visit recently built properties in your area for ideas and potential contacts.

I would absolutely entertain the house hacking idea if not for my wife 2 children.

:Class A Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, 3-5 years for positive cashflow, but you get highest relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% the more recent norm.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 680+, zero evictions in last 7 years.Class B Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, decent amount of relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% should be applied only if proper research done to support.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 620-680, some blemishes, but should have no evictions in last 5 yearsClass C Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, high cashflow and at the lower end of relative rent & value appreciation.

Have done a bit of research on all the strategies.So far, really like the idea of getting into section 8.

Was curious if anybody does this or if it is even possible.You could, but you promised the seller to make payments on the note, so it's a bad idea. 

Debt can be your friend if managed properly (write-offs, etc)I would find a market with $100k homes and buy two of them with 20% down each ($40k).

Assuming you aren't intentionally gouging the tenant, you certainly can charge exactly what it costs to replace something, but is it a good idea to go with an expensive option just because someone else is [probably] paying?

Just get a proper home inspection and investigate the basement quality, electric type (i.e. knob and tube, aluminum, ungrounded, modern romex), plumbing type (i.e. cast iron, galvanized, pvc), and just be overall ok with an older building material.

I like the idea of a 4 unit and keeping one of them as a STR.

The idea is to close as many deals as possible for the month of December 2023 and start 2024 that will shock the Real Estate World.