Probably your best bet is the KC Star although some of their articles are paywalled.

I bet you did not have that one in your bingo card...

As far as investing with as little capital as possible, house hacking is going to be your absolute best bet.

If all you're thinking about is saving money versus making money then be careful not to get completely wholesaled by an "investor".

A Heloc is a open end mortgage like a credit card so its an additional trade line on credit, cannto never be used as an Asset, PITI reserve, and its a DTI killer in most cases.A heloc is also usually set up on a shorter term versus a mortgage, carries a Higher interest rate, and most carry a interest only with a prepayment penalty.

Your best bet would be to find a PM position and get your real estate license at the same time.

I bet that rent increase Will show up.

What I do offer is a perspective of syndication versus owning the properties yourself.  

So, despite the purchase price of original light versus the ceiling fan the ceiling fan is an "upgrade" for a tenant.

Another common route is borrowing from private lenders—whether friends, family, or other investors in exchange for a return on their investment, though you should always ensure everything is clearly agreed upon in writing.If you're hesitant to use your savings, a HELOC or hard money loan might be your best bet for accessing the capital you need without dipping into your reserves.