Start saving up your money to get ready for your first purchase.Not an expert but without your parents I think the earliest you can buy is 18 otherwise they would need to sign for you as a minor.

If you want to get together to talk sometime let me know, I handle finding tenants, leasing, money and general communication stuff, my husband handles all the rehab/repair DIY mostly so while not experts we do have some experience we don't mind sharing.

Besides the monthly income, additional reserves would allow you and people who do the same type of business to make it through a general economic event, or a local event such as a major factory closure.

Personally, I'd recommend you become an expert on it.  

And, if you have a business or economic reason, such as loss of job, loss of income, medical emergency, etc., to explain why you move in early you will still be O.K. as long as you can demonstrate that you did have the intent to hold for rental or investment and then "something" happened and you had to move in.

Even if they are not motivated to sell at wholesale price, perhaps you can ask to put them in touch with a market expert (licensed) who will be glad to list at retail value.

Although I am not the expert on this I would be happy to connect you to my contact at YNDO URBAN.

I would also like to echo @Amanda Han that having a tax expert in your corner is very important, be sure to understand tax implications before doing anything.

However, they usually want the P&Z office to sign off as board members aren't usually zoning experts but elected or appointed, so it's political.Wall it up, put double doors in some low traffic area, like those used in motel suites between rooms, lock them, if neighbors want to chat the can open them, if not they can keep them locked on their side.

You have to set these things up correctly however with the proper structure.When you keep doing 1031's the property or properties have to be at the same amount basis or higherI am not an expert tax accountant or an estate planner so take what I say with a grain of salt.