I implore you to do one of two things...1) find a partner that's been there, done that, and bought the tee-shirt so you can learn the ropes with someone who knows the pitfalls or, 2) start with a single-family or duplex with the guidance of someone that knows what they are doing.

I'm closing on a nice condo deal this Friday.

And then special assessments on condos.

@Frederic BabeuxOn citrus anywhere in the world, make sure you understand "Greening".Same thought on Coconuts, understand "Yellowing".Anyone on Belize, don't invest there unless you have made many trips there and either have an onsite Caretaker or a gated Condo community.

Going into the unknown and buying multiple SFHs/duplexes or an apartment complex OOS and my property taxes will skyrocket (property tax is reasonable thanks to Proposition 13 in CA).

., "I will buy at least one single-family home, duplex, triplex, or fourplex before the end of 2019") and then do it.

If you actually have a triplex rather than a duplex that could impact insurance eligibility and pricing but it doesn't sound like that's the case.Along those lines, you just have to make sure sub-leasing is OK with your insurance.

Due diligence is key before you sign on the dotted lineBuild a network of a great property manager, lender and maintenance teamDepending on your budget, I usually would start with at least a duplex, triplex or quad.

And the condo debacle in FL will be churning for quite a while as these rogue HOAs try to get realistic with deferred maintenance, new requirements, and freedom for people to use as they need to afford them.One thing to consider would be to 1031 all of them in a consolidation exchange. 

Like I brokered a 22  lot development of duplex's for a builder and just charged him 30k flat fee per sale.. they sold for 225k each back in 05 when I did this and I sold them all in one weekend at a big event i paid for in San Jose CA.. all to CA investors it was my fly and buy program I did in those days..