In the collapse of 2008-09, I lost most everything and had to liquidate long-term holdings to pay creditors. 

Use funds to renovate homes on a larger scale, sell the ones that you don't want, and roll the profits into better ones.The hardest part is building a team and having the funds to build something bigger.If you want to do this in Provo, we can chat.Buying crap is easy, building something is harder but rewarding.

Got another quick question: I’m still not fully set on if I want to house hack a larger multi family or get a single family on a conventional loan and rent out.

  ( mainly MS Lori since I don't want her in some scuzzy uber )  Well Jano ( our driver) had another client who had a liquidity event and was looking for an agent..

@Matt Maitz depends on how large the property and loan size is.For larger syndicated deals you can raise the capital needed for the capital stack outside what the lender will fund. 

I'm most familiar with Texas markets and Houston and DFW generally have larger units than Austin and San Antonio.

It always depends on what kind of investing you want to get involved in and assets you have to work with that are liquid or can be made liquid like a 401k transferred into a self-directed IRA for example.

Larger projects by room.

Utilities - $300 seems fineInsurance - $100 - $150 moProperty tax - I'd say 1.25 % would be more accurateMaintenance - I'd allow $500/mo to start a cap fund for when e larger repair is neededInternet - $100 mo is what most pay for a good bandwidth.

That more than double what I paid in for a larger roof a couple years ago.