Newbie soon to be in DFW (Dallas), TX

[Marc Ver Wayne]

My name is Marc Ver Wayne and I am currently living in Riverside, CA.  I am looking in the next 18 to 24 months to move my family to the DFW area for my job and I am looking to purchase our family home (with possible income potential) along with beginning my buy and hold career (preferably in multi-family).  I am currently working in an Analytics position within the mortgage finance industry, so I have always thought of myself as having a good amount of knowledge in Real Estate, but I have had my eyes opened while here on Bigger Pockets.  Luckily my long commutes have been saved by the Picket Pockets podcasts and my free time spent here on the site and expanding my knowledge through reading.

My goals are to be become a buy and hold investor while maintaining my current career so that in the future my retirement and income streams are not solely based on my job and/or equity investments.

I do have a question that I would like feedback from the forum as I begin to formulate my plans in the near future:

When we go to make the move we will have enough of down payment (20%) saved up for our primary residence and I project my investment property down payment (including reserves) will be realized in another 12 to 18 months. Does it make sense to go for a low down payment (FHA) loan for my primary residence and at the same time jump into purchasing my first rental property? Or should we wait the 12 months and have more sizable down payment for both? My risk tolerance is in the middle but more on the cautious side.

I look forward to engaging with everyone on Bigger Pockets!