I honestly should have more money saved up considering my years of working full-time, however younger financial mistakes have been a painful lesson and I regret not purchasing a property sooner/younger.My most important and immediate goal right now is to purchase a property.I am in (what I perceive to be) a relatively high cost real estate area. 

If you can avoid doing an Ellis Act that'd be ideal, b/c it's still going to "cost you" in other ways.

The cost of a marine grade grill is hard to justify for a STR.

However, maintenance costs seemed to be never ending. 

If the cost is more than the benefit, don't do the repair.

House hacking helps you grow wealth and cut down on your home loan costs by letting others live in your place.

There's the down payment, the closing costs AND the delta between what's left on the loan and their offered price.AND don't forget the time involved to assume the loan.

Go with Hostaway, great cost-benefit, and it's integrated with Turno as well!

In Charlotte, NC and in Charleston, SC, we have such an extreme lack of inventory, especially at the lower end of affordability- seller's aren't giving up their 2.99% interest rate to downsize and pay more for a home with a higher rate, so they are staying on the sidelines. and Builders cannot ramp up fast enough, and are being very cautious due to interest rates, coupled with inflation, where their goods and services also cost more to build homes- and, after 2008-2010, where many got burned, and badly, they are super cautious.

Even if the first deal "costs" them money, it is the cost of education and they are better suited for the next.B) Of the handful of turnkey providers whose websites I have been to and deals I have looked out, let's just say they are certainly painting a VERY rosy picture.