Hello from Joe- advice needed for buying a rental property.

[Joseph Hossenlopp]

Hello!  My name is Joe, and I am interested in getting into the real estate investing game.  I am a bit late to the party, but by the time I retire (in 1 1/2 years) I would like a rental income coming in.  I will have a nice pension (from 37 years teaching) to live on.  My plan is to get a rental property ASAP, then eventually buy a downsized house on the lake to live in and rent my current house.  The trick is saving up for the down payment.  I may have to use my current house's equity, as I only have about $20K of the 60K I figure I need for that.  I do have some income on the horizon (couple years).  We do have equity (about 160,000) but I would also like to pay off the house.  Any suggestions would be helpful.