Option 2 would be to live frugally (not easy since you are buying a home) and save every penny until you can afford the down payment on a positive cash flow multi plex you can maintain yourself.If you do not yet have children you can concentrate your efforts on buying a first investment property.

I am an interior designer, furniture designer and fabricator, and artist. 

Ultimate goal is to have some investments that can help me teach my children to build their own future.

I've been married to my high school sweetheart 30 years (as of next month) and we've raised 4 children, but never had any luck with real estate.

Many of them are young and have some ikea furniture and not much else.

Tenants are my children and my children behave.

I work full time day work 40-70 hours a week, trying to raise three children.

She has GREAT furniture and a house always looks better filled than empty . . . so yes, we would flip it because that's out of our range to hold on to.

hiI'm aware of depreciation reclaim when selling my property, but how do i deal with other assets such as washer dryers and furniture?

OK so maybe the guaranteed death is a little morbid but what a legacy to leave your children.