You will benefit in experience quickly from the deep resources here.  

I don't want my fear/inexperience to paralyze me from action though.

I used hard money for the first deal I ever did and it worked out well with a few hiccups along the way due to some inexperience.  

Gold flees the man who would force it to impossible earnings or who followeth the alluring advice of tricksters and schemers or who trusts it to his own inexperience and romantic desires in investment.If I was 21, educated and debt-free (if you are not yet debt-free, this is step 1), I would immediately make it my aim to retire by the age of 30.  

Those that do so show either inexperience with their analysis or at worst, are being misleading.

Hands in experience is way more valuable then online research especially in Essex county where I invest as well and the situation between town to town and even block to block can change drastically.

That may be my own inexperience somewhat looking for more point a to point b guidance. 

So it may seem portfolio is the way to go but not all portfolio lenders lend on multifamily or do less than 30% downpayment or don't allow inexperience investors to acquire large multi-families or require equal value networth or reserves.

People with any level of real estate investing experience or inexperience are welcome.

Additionally, we have considered a 203k loan but are hesitant to roll rehab costs into our loan for our first project because of our inexperience with rehab costs.