Any helpful hints or tips are very much appreciated. 

I've already considered buying the brother's 1/2 duplex FHA and the sister's with a conventional, non-owner occupied loan - this would cost way more cash than I'm willing to spend.Question #4- Are there any hints, tricks, or things to watch out for when doing this type of deal?

Kyle's response was basically, "for the last 4 years"...Bill, I hope you realized I was teasing, NOT encouraging him (hinting that his guru-speak would not trick any sensible person here on BP into paying HIM for "investing in self" education, that can be gotten just as easily for free)! 

Hint: Tacoma-Olympia may have potential.Best of luck!

@Taylor Gillette - welcome to Bigger Pockets and see the great hint about the "@" below@Scott Hurd - posting to Russell like that may not get his attention (although he frequents a lot!)

@Brandon Sturgill three thoughts:1) you're going to have to pay the listing agent/broker commission to get them to go along with anything like this.2) Here in Pittsburgh, investor buyers almost always pay all closing costs, so I don't think it's too crazy to ask the buyer to pay them here, and honestly, they'll be low (hint: pull title insurance as of the date the current owner bought it, cheaper).3) consider using a trust strategy to even further reduce the closing costs.  

I am looking for anyone who can give me tips and hints on how to get started into RE Investing.

If they seem like you are bothering them, get the hint and find a new lender.  

One of the risks that I think has been hinted around at is that the bank will rarely fix anything so it's all on you, the buyer.

I think the first step is to see if you can actually get the tax lowered or "abated" then worry about if it can be done if you own the property in an LLC.Another hint would be to spell out the name New Jersey so that folks with that as a keyword alert will see your post.