@Megan RandolphThe closest is buy a non performing note, get it reperforming then sell a partial to get your equity back to reinvest in another deal and you will also keep payments on the back end.Example, buy a $30,000 UPB non performing loan that is paying $400/month with 120 months remaining 10% interestYou buy it for $15k, they start reperforming then you sell 15,000 worth of payments at 10% to investor which may be 60 months (numbers not verified and for example purposes).

Also what I find as that many investors buy outright because it makes the deal more attractive as leveraging the properties either initially or post closing would leave little to no cash flow. 

I was able to initially come in with a cash offer, which helped facilitate, since it's a small commercial property and the 2 vacant units deemed it as distressed to many banks.

We only recently moved our target to househacking a 2-4 family (initially we looked at getting a condo, really liked SoNo). 

What is the best loan to use for the initial purchase (being that we will want to refinance 6 to 12 months later)?

Not sure that actually matters, but figured I'd verify with you all!

This will speed up your learning curve, greatly reducing your risk and if/when you land those first few deals you will likely be able to partner with them which would almost ensure your success initially.

It is a product they offer for those unable to utilize the VA loan, however after calling them for the second time to verify that I would qualify they stated that it can only be used for secondary properties but not rentals.

How much did your parents pay for the house initially. 

All of the properties I bought were 5% Cap or under.Today, similarly like @Russell Brazil , as an example, when a property I bought for $140k, $28k down payment and Closing Costs about 19 yeas ago, is worth over $1.1 Million, profiting over $1 Million, and cash flows over $3k per month, all from an initial investment of $28k.... you start to understand that some calculation of Initial Cash Flow is not the best calculation.Think of it this way.