Tools, lawn mowers, snow blowers are all fair game. 

I believe the best way to start out is get an understanding of how to find or create a great deal, find that deal through sweat equity, partner with someone who has been down that road before even if they offer you a minority share, and get the experience under your belt on what to do from A-Z.

If you get another opportunity, I'd recommend signing up just so you have that extra bit of knowledge under your belt.

Of course, myself I focus on a 5 year term to hold, so that I can continue to step up with appreciation and cash out more capital to acquire properties that do better then $100/door.  4 Plexes at $100/door make a significant impact, imagine getting 30 of those under your belt?  

welcome to BP...make urself at home.Be sure to get some podcasts under ur belt, they are really awesome and great fuel for ur endeavours in REI.All the best and c I around :)

But can be done all day long in many of the rust belt bigger cities and Detroit for sure.

I may be open to other types of deals in the future but want to get a few of these under my belt first.

Value of the building (six years since purchase) is conservatively now $1.4mYear 5 - with the 6 unit under my belt and saving, saving, saving from my W2 day job, I partnered up with a buddy and went halfsies on two duplexes out of state (Nashville, TN); 25% down on each, conventional fixed-rate 30 year loans on each. 

When you get one under your belt, worry about the LLC.

Since i'm just starting out i'd ideally like to start with a small investment (just to get my feet wet) and then with a little experience under my belt aim for larger projects.