I wanted to step through the deal with someone from the forum to ensure that this is a fiscally sound opportunity.

It sounds like either you buy a straight rental or a 2-4 unit house hack.The biggest advantage to house hacking a 2-4 unit is (1) you can put less money down with a better interest rate and (2) you can use the income from the other units to qualify.I don't know where you are based out of so not sure how far your $85K pre-tax income goes.

One more piece of advice.  

Keep your conversations simple.You don’t need to sound like a guru.

My name is Justin, I'm looking for some advice from anyone out there who has experience in the long term rental game.I am looking to pickup my first rental property in 2026, currently in the learning faze watching as many BiggerPockets / Real Estate Rookie Podcasts as humanly possible and analyzing deals for hours a day to learn markets.

Quote from @Mary Jay: I would get a second opinion, sounds like they are just looking to sell you on some stuff, or it might actually be true and the old company owner/techs did not bring any of this up to you.

Set for Life is an awesome book every 23 year old should read in my opinion.You sound a lot like I sounded at age 23.

Quote from @Casey Hall: @Collin Hays Thanks for the advice — I totally get what you’re saying.The only tricky part for me is there really isn’t a solid STR market close to where I live.

Quote from @Adam Macias: A 50-year mortgage sounds like affordability — but it’s really it'll be debt that never ends. lolOn paper, stretching a mortgage from 30 years to 50 lowers the monthly payment, yes.But in reality, you’re paying far more in interest while barely building equity for decades.If you buy a house at 25 years old if you're lucky, you'll be 75 when the mortgage term ends...It’s housing that feels like ownership but functions more like renting — just with a longer contract and a higher total cost.The real problem isn’t the length of the loan.It’s the affordability crisis that’s forcing people to consider lifetime debt as a solution.Until we address prices, wages, and supply, extending loan terms only delays the inevitable...The further elimination of the middle class chasing the American Dream of owning a home. 

Hi @Juliette HolmJames give you a very details inside, this is what I would like to add on his response.Property Selection Caveats (1970s Homes)While the general decade recommendation is sound, remember that every property needs close inspection:Plumbing Systems: Be extremely cautious with houses built in the 1970s.