Remember, there are plenty of loans that will analyze the deal based on rental income as a part of the underwrite.  

Also, anything you can't find, just ask questions here on BP and you will get plenty of answers. 

I've listened to plenty of podcasts & read a ton of blog posts and I've decided to start house hacking.

The types of investments you are looking for are plentiful in the twin cities right now.

To be honest, the several avenues you can take within investing along with the plethora of knowledge on BP, makes all this feel like drinking through a fire-hose.

You're in Minnesota though so you should be able to find plenty of properties that cash flow in different areas in the state.Also, most realtors don't know how to help investors.

I know plenty of people, and have plenty of clients that have ventured EOTR.

I'm looking at Soutside Flats primarily, realizing that this type of property will need to be in an area with plenty of amenities. 

You have to have the "plenty of fish in the sea" mentality in this business, and this all may or may not necessarily apply to you.

There some lenders who are specifically designed to be "community" banks and their charter prevents them from going outside their territory but there are plenty of banks that lend in a larger territory.