Figure out what route you want to do for sure but if you intent to house hack you will want good credit for lending and the more money you have saved the better position you will put yourself in.

I figured it would be pointless to reach out to agent due to competition.

I figured what better place to begin than at the very beginning.I actually just turned 29 last week and a few days later my wife and I celebrated the birth of our first child.

@Micheal Dang thanks so much for the advice, i figured a shift in thought would do the trick! 

Just gotta figure out the system a bit to maximize things at the limit, but that's why I try to help, so the next guy can see how easy it really is ;)

Should I figure 1%, or should I be higher.

@Jorge Pena  One figure that has not been mentioned is what your capital gains hit is going to be.

But, this would be a rough idea more than concrete numbers.

I hear it's kind of rough.

Do consider your travel expenses.When doing your cost evaluation,  think of any investment as a long term one and figure the worst case scenario to determine your offer.