If I were you, I would learn all sorts of things about personal finance and real estate investing, sure, but I would spend a lot of quality time (and money) on furthering my education and having a social life that includes going out on a lot of dates.Here's my reasoning: if you look at all the millionaire households in the USA, as of 2009 95% of them are headed up by a married couple or widow/widower.

I love the idea of house hacking but there are very few options on the MLS to even do it, let alone at a reasonable price ($600k+).

For example, how many 2,00 sq ft 3 BR 1.5BA homes could reasonably be built on 1.25 acres of land?

Here’s the secret: Create an LLC and have the LLC lend you a mortgage on the property you are receiving.The reason why this works is because instead of you needing cash or receiving a cash out loan, we are now refinancing a loan – your loan.

you don't have any expenses itemized so I don't know your U/W but when I see a property with outsized gains, for no apparent reason, then I know the reason is offset by appropriate increased risk.

You agree to not enter the home without proper notice and a good reason.

What I was really asking is if you couldn’t put granite in for some reason, what would be your alternatuve. 

I will also start an LLC for security reasons but am very new to owning a business especially with these stipulations. 

Just factor in fixing the reason the basement flooded (could be easy like clogged gutters or extending the down spouts or maybe the sump pump hasn't worked because the electric is off or it could be expensive like digging around the foundation, parging the walls and then adding a french drain or could be real expensive and have a cracked foundation so you need to know) mold remediation and door replacement (if they're really bad) into the renovation figures.  

My question would be how do you know what your payments would be if you have not yet qualified for a loan because if you were already qualified for a loan then I do no see the reasoning behind your question about qualifying for a loan.