Along the way to pay for our health insurance (partner and self) which had crept up to $1400 a month pre-Obamacare I took on a W-2.

I am an experienced trade who watches pre-market to the end of the day at least 4 out of 5 times a week.

In the AZ market, if you wanted to buy something as a straight up rental NOO, you could still do 10% down, no MI on a portfolio loan in the mid to high 3s for a 1-4 unit property to get the ball rolling after your first house hack.

Can I ask the HML to roll the cost of rehab into the loan? 

But if your goal is to get some passive income rolling that can progress to Financial Independence, then the extra income that 2 earners can bring in will help you get started much easier.

Given that property prices have risen alongside this increased revenue, if revenue drops back to pre-covid levels it would be troublesome. 

Im in the Pittsburgh market, I have a 14KSF lot that I want to maximize. It currently houses a 2214SF side by side duplex with attached garages. I want to convert a large parking pad and some grass into a detached 2-3...

There is a manufactured home (stick built ) builder or distributor locally.Contemplating buying some land and then adding the stick built houses.Will you share why you decided custom built vs pre-fab for your project?

Interest only for 24 months then automatically rolls to an amortizing loan 5/20.

Also normal is a pre-payment penalty.