I wish I had the mentality to take this step at such a young age.

They usually want to get out because it's mentally and sometimes physically taxing for that age or they just want to be fully retired from everything.

The only way I can think of to make it work is if she switches into a long-term asset mentality and can take on the negative cash flow for a while waiting on rents to go up and appreciation to kick in (as well as inflation benefits, etc.).

I don't see the house hacking mentality applied to commercial areas much. 

Its that kind of mentality that make you all fail.

I considered renting prior to moving, 100% the most logical thing to do, but given how much we've moved in the past year, for our mental state we'd like to find a place where we can settle.

I really feel dumb for not considering more options)... mentally, I've been geared towards strict hold strategy, but with those suggestions incorporated it would definitely accelerate things!

\it has not been all wine and roses I assure you.. but when you hit a good one its pretty cool.. but Atlanta Man that was a missed opportunity.. but investors had such a  If it does not cash flow its not worth anything mentality then..

I am all about the “living below your means” mentality.

As far as crime goes,  there have been a few high profile incidents,  the most recent being about 10 years ago when a mentally ill individual who had come up from further south in the state broke into a home and committed a rape/murder against a couple living there, as well as a couple of other incidents of serious violence as well since I have owned in the area.