Ultimately I do not want to be over leveraged, stuck paying a high mortgage for extended time, or live in a home that needs work I can’t fund what are your thoughts and recommendations for how I should structure my first purchase?

. - Starts with 5% conventional loan for duplex - Move over to 4 plex property with FHA loan  - lowering expenses while we are on the proess.I guess the broad assumption for the duplex and the fourplex should be that both properties has to have positive cashflows.

I have found that getting a heloc on my primary has been an issue when review w2s as my dti is over the requirements.

Its always cool to see folks from the EU come over and try their hand in US real estate.

My husband did a reverse 1031 exchange on a property over 20 years ago. 

Borrowing from the equity must be done wisely, or you will end up with negative cash flow and be at high risk due to over-leveraging.NOTE: I use interest rates much lower than they currently are in 2024!

I paid 116k cash for the house, invested about 30k and have it rented out for $1,350/mo.I bought another one while I was out there and went back at the beginning of April to do it all over again.  

I'll be in San Diego mid July, lets chat over Coffee!

A search on these forums over the past 2 years will surely help you network:)

That was over 10 years ago and it put the kibosh on the purchase.