Need help with financing for buying apartment complexes?

[Alex SImon]

Hi everyone, brand new to this.  I've got a great income, great credit score, but no home ownership experience and no knowledge regarding financing options for buying apartment complexes.  Here's the situation:

I'm a security contractor in the Middle East.  Really low cost of living since I'm in company housing with a company car (a freaking Ford Taurus when people are shooting at us at gas stations) plus a rather nice paycheck.  Even with both of these things I'm frustrated with how long it will take to save up a 20% down payment on a $600k apartment complex in Florida.  I've talked to a mortgage guy and all he would tell me is that "someone else" handled that kind of financing but he wasn't terribly helpful after that.  So I need some help understanding what specific options are available to me for purchasing apartment buildings.  I guess I'll just ask a bunch of questions here and see if anyone bites:

1.  Anyone know any ways to get apartment properties for less than 20% down?

2.  Can anyone tell me what types of loans I should be researching?

3.  Anyone know a good real estate agent in Florida who deals mainly with apartment buildings?

4.  Are there any "first time buyer" perks that I can cash in on when going after apartment complexes?

5.  How can I keep the monthly payments on my financing lower, so as to make the property more profitable?