Then I start asking around for how others have handled getting this last piece in place [maybe a first piece for others]... and finally I take a deep breath and put on my "I CAN DO ANYTHING" hat [it gives me confidence, lol] and call up one of my friends with lots of money.Background:  I thought I couldn't go to any of my "rich" friends until I had at least one deal under my belt.  

Learn about deal and financing structures available to you so that you start to build a tool belt as it were applicable to real estate investing. 

My name is Howard and I would like to get some investment experience under my belt.

Still a newbie with zero experience under my belt.

If you've just joined and only have a few posts under your belt, don't get discouraged when you post wanting partners, money, etc. and nobody is interested.

Keep your safety belts fastened because it's going to be a horribly bumpy ride. 

Get a deal under your belt, redefine things, then pursue another deal.

not really since she has no idea what's wrong with the unit. it can be the blower, the fan, the capacitor, a leak in the condenser or a line set leak.what i'd do is get a very expensive/reputable company to give me a detail quote of what's wrong. even if you have to pay them for the visit, it would be worth it.THEN, i'd start calling around having that information in hand and not bothering the tenants by having 15 AC guys going there. that makes you look cheap in tenants' eyes.

Long term goals would be to eventually have 5 properties that i have under my belt that have great tenants and are preferably paid off.

(Just make sure the technical specs are the same too)Example:200 dollar ryobi backpack blower 510 cfm 185 mphEVERYONE hates ryobi because it is chinese but I realized early on in the field that if you maintain your equipment and baby it like the expensive Echo's and stihls it will last just the same.