My parents moved close to us one year ago, but unfortunately, my mother passed away from ALS last summer.

My parents may lose there home.

The distinction is important because if an employer classifies a worker as a contractor who should be an employee, the employer can be liable for withholding taxes, even if they already paid the worker.It's worth talking to a CPA or lawyer about your worker if you are not sure.

I currently work at Home Depot and get $15 an hour, which is decent pay in my situation to save money but I want a higher paying job that could also increase my knowledge of real estate so I can start investing earlier while consequences are still reasonably low (I don't have a family to provide for and live for cheap at my parents).

The only reason the house hack doesn't appeal to me is 1) I am a single mom, and my parents watch my kid so I stay within a reasonable distance to them and there are no duplexes near us, plus moving repeatedly with a kid is not fun nor ideal for me personally. 2) I just had a new home built in 2019 and plan to keep this house long term.I live in Arizona but have looked at investing in GA or just a more affordable market than what we have here.

(Wage garnishment appears to be a valid method of collecting on a small claims judgment in your state, as it is in mine.)Your tenant's employers will be obligated to withhold a portion of his wages, which will then be sent to you. 

My parents were humble enough to let me borrow their 401k money.

I'd ask the magistrate if you can with hold the cost of sending certified a 2nd time.

Hi my names Brandon and i’m new to real estate investing. i’m a full time plumbers apprentice and i currently live rent free at my parents so i’m beginning to save up some money. this idea of house hacking has been very intriguing to me, but the resources and my connections are just not there. also since fairfield county is so expensive, it is very scary for me to take that BIG STEP. any recommendations or lessons from when you guys started would be awesome!

You can do the math on that in terms of financing, but if you're going to house hack, you might very well breakeven if not (very) slightly cash flow.I'd say you have a better chance of getting appreciation than cash flow.FYI: I did an FHA 4plex househack (kept 1 unit for my parents) 2 years ago in Vancouver, WA (across the river from Portland) and just raised the rents enough to just break even recently.