For reference, my credit is in a good spot, and the first offer was acceptable (i.e., I don't think it'd be a terrible mistake to move forward with it, but I might be able to knock 0.1-0.2% off the rate).

That'd be easy to google.My overall advice would be to look for a part time job in real estate (either at an agency, analyst intern, mortgage co, etc) while you're a student and if you really want to invest in RE at this point, do it through a REIT or some publically traded company like CapitaLand (an example, not my stock pick) until you have a bit more saved.

Appreciation is like the stock market.

My 9-year old and 6-year old boys had a great time exploring my favorite spots in San Diego.

You are spot on my friend. 

Hello investors/REAWhere are the hot spots in milwaukee right now and where are the places I should stay away from?

;-)@Brent Coombs - My current interest rate is 3.99%@Anthony Gayden - Yeah I probably could have dumped a lot more more into my 401K but took the approach to only contribute as much as my employer would match and stock the rest as cash so that I could remain liquid.  

@Crystal Smith - yes your points are all spot on - i struggle with accurately gauging whether i think i will for sure cashflow more in a re-sell scenario vs. the cashflow on a re-fi vs. breaking even on either scenario.as far as house hacking, i listened to the BP podcast w/ Brandon Hall and visited the 1031 forum here and as far as I can tell, i can house hack and my tax consequence is pro rata in relation to the portion i occupy. 

You are spot on.

I've been trying to get a handle on market selection, but for me to be able to do it well, as a part-time investor who has a day job (and then some) feels kind of like picking individual stocks to me.