i just want to know if anybody was ever in my situation and really wanted to learn about real estate at such a young age, what did you do?

Both the furnace and the water heater are getting up in age. 

It just seems classier and less for the tenant to worry about in this day and age where most people use cards and don't want to worry about getting rolls of quarters anyway!

I want to invest in a 19 plex but my wife and is hesitant and I am somewhat concerned about the risk due to my age at 64 and the time it will take for the property to appreciate.

The type, age and condition of properties can influence the amount of reserves.  

Such as the desire to have impact windows, hip roofs, better drainage, the age of the roof ect.

Specially at such a young age!

Looking for advice on how to obtain a secured (using property) non-income verification type loan for the purposes of renovating a non owner-occupied second home that is owned outright in order to to turn it into a short term/vacation rental (thus utilizing those projected funds for repayment).I've looked a lot of options (mostly from conventional lenders) but 99% of them want to see tax returns/proof of income.

However, the fireplace needs some lifting up from the aged look it has.

Download your landlord tenant laws for your state..Each person that's over age of 18 is listed on lease as tenant.. all equally responsible for rent.