Make sure you are saving at least 10% of your income to purchase.

No income this year, but did have expenses, so I want to capture the loss and carry it to 2021. 

HI John, You can always start off by house hacking meaning you live in one UNIT or ROOM and renting out the other vacant units/rooms to offset your monthly mortgage payment.There are several ways to run and make sure you are maximizing your rental income while keeping your living expense as low as possible.

I can probably do 3 to 4 flips a year and replace my W2 income and cover Health insurance.Yes I know, I'm not looking for advice on the podcast, but others are and the advice in this one episode was shocking and scary. 

He had a female CPA on who talked about the benefits of an STR Loophole for those of us who have W2 income as a way to take deductions that are normally not permissable when the tax payer makes a certain amount of income. 

My goal is to build a portfolio that provides as much income as possible within the next 5 years, so I am thinking STR. 

Real estate is a long term game (overall) and sometimes investing in yourself and your active income can yield a higher rate of return, in which can also excel you investing.

No tax returns, no W-2s, no den to income, and 90% of the other conventional red tape is eliminated.

If you have good credit and sufficient income, that might work.

Either with residential or commercial, yes, there are programs that would allow you qualify based on income/debt.