Currently have a great job but want to start acquiring  2-4 unit complexes.

Depending on your states statutes and because they are on a month to month, give the proper notification that xxxx change will take affect starting 30,60,90 days from now. 

This is why househacking is so powerful when youre getting started - for primary residence loans, 3-5% down is very normal.

I will add that you definitely do not need to be near your investments, but it makes things a lot easier when you first start off. 

Start with the end in mind --- what would be the investor's exit strategy for this home? 

Under "Start a Business", choose "Limited Liability Company" and follow the directions.

I’m just trying to figure out where to start in terms of figuring out what makes sense.

It seems now we have a bull market and if it starts going the other way I would like my rental to at least continue to produce monthly cashflow...that's where I'm at now...still researching and seeing my options... $46,800/year in cash flow with $500k is a nice yield at 9.36% ($46,800/$500,000).

You should consult with local property managers and find what the average DOM would be to lease your home and rental rates etc. this would be a good starting point. 

Start by attending real estate meetups, BiggerPockets forums, and local investor groups to connect with potential partners.