Is buying a single condo unit to rent a good place to start?

[Trisha Racho]

My husband and I want to start investing in real estate but we live in an expensive market. We have enough money for a down-payment but on top of our own personal mortgage, we are unable to afford a multi-family property and also don't have experience as landlords. We're trying to determine the best first step and are considering a single unit, unoccupied apartment/condo. Ideally, we would like to make a local purchase in Fairfield County, CT. 

Is this a good idea or are there any other avenues that may yield a higher ROI?