The financial freedom, in my eyes, doesn't come from only doing architecture.  

Hello newbie investor trying to reach financial freedom.

If you believe real estate is the vehicle to your financial freedom, get involved.  

Engaging with an HOA adds another governing body that may impose restrictions on your operational freedom.

This investment was my first stepping stone to financial freedom.

Being an investor and a broker out of Denver, I've decided to offload my out-of-state investments and move them back to Denver, as it provides me the freedom, and capability to get more creative and optimized with the properties creating better returns.

(Cut out and remove concrete to expose pipes, replace drywall after jobs etc)You won’t succeed in any market without a team and you can’t form a team without failing consistently giving you the freedom and experience to define what you true product and neighborhood is. 

We have a goal of purchasing our first place in a year, however after learning about different options to build more financial freedom we are mainly interested in house hacking our first property.

For example, I know I'm going to be moving in the next year and would like to purchase a property in the area but I don't want to get locked into moving into that property if it's making me money. i would like the freedom to build my portfolio and then (hopefully) house hack a second property in the area once I get up there. 

I even got my Real Estate License in order to make me a better investor and understand what is actually happening behind the scene of every real estate transactions and ofcouse help people buy and sell real estate.The tax benefits, leveraging power, Long Term Financial Security, tenant paying my mortgage for me (with average $350 monthly positive cash flow), Real Estate Appreciation, ability to easily liquidate and the amount of freedom it gives are main reason why I stick to Real Estate Investment as my vehicle to building wealth.Sorry to hear your horrible experience with your current Property Manager, I will suggest you seat down and re-negotiate with them.