. $600,000 is going to be very tough- but something around high-700s should be doable.

You won't qualify based on what you said here as an owner occupied dwelling, You may have some static being a triplex, but you may get past that if you can show that one unit would not be rented, might be a steep climb, but technically doable.

Leveraging 80-90% is entirely doable without ending up on the wrong side of zero...assuming you buy right!

I think your plans are totally doable!

Do you find that it's still doable/profitable while living elsewhere and being busy with a job (or other investments etc)?

You are only required to put down 3.5%, making it very doable for most people.

I've considered starting with a multi, but most of the ones on the MLS and loopnet are around 10% cap rate which is doable, but again, not ideal.

The purchase price was around 150k-180k [doable in this market].

It's takes away some of the fear from unfamiliar jargon flying around you :)(I don't know if they still offer it, but I was able to take free pre-license classes from Coldwell Banker back in 2004, I just had to sign something saying that if I did become an agent it would initially be through them.)I won't lie to you: Working full time and getting started in real estate after hours can be tough, but it's definitely do-able - with some discipline.

Terms and rates aren't nearly as good as Helocs, but at least it's do-able.