Im a very vanilla investor, and not well versed in different finance options but it seems like an acceptable, but not ideal, option for getting your foot in the door with low initial funds/experience and very little effort.

You don’t need to make many changes other than filing your taxes differently and just budgeting differently due to the lack of one W2 income. 

The forum is a great place to meet different community members and search for posts with similar questions you may have.

100%- most businesses lose money first two years, sometimes RE investing is no different.

Each ski area has its own unique charm and character, so it's worth exploring different options to find the one that suits what you are looking for.A few of these are also better than others in regards to a year round draw.

I see different answers when I try to find more about that.

The only real difference between a 4-unit and a 5-unit is the financing.

Your realtor friend and the investors you've met both make valid points about investing in different areas of Atlanta.

Hey @Tom Pubins - I would highly suggest using www.hemlane.com they syndicate to many different sites and have a very clean platform to manage tenant screening. 

Spend more on the small things that can make a big difference.