You seem like a great candidate for a DSCR Loan - and you have great timing as rates have finally started to really come down to make cash-out refinances viable again!

I finally took the time to rate the podcast.  

I would tell you to pay down your credit cards even if you focus on just one card at a time to get the balance down to 30% or less of credit limit.

As long as you're financing it as an investment property you should be able to.You might have a hard time getting a lender to fund if you don't have rental rates/estimates to provide to the lender.

Takes a lot of time for the first one so you need to stay disciplined and consistent. 

As I'm developing my marketing strategy for house hacking, I want to emphasize and understand who my potential roommates are and what their potential needs are.I envision the tenant to be a young professional or student looking for housing, but I would like to gather more insights:Amenities and Needs:What sort of amenities and features do young professionals and students typically look for in a rental property?

I'm a first-time home buyer interested in house hacking. 

I am doing One Time Showing Agreements for a few so they understand how I work before signing with me

Are you uninsured that whole time?

If water does get into the seams and underneath it it is a big PITA.I would definitely leave the tile where you have it, because it is much more durable.