For the locals to grind it out to eventually bare fruit it might have been worth it to portfolio average their holdings concentrated there. 

You should really concentrate on building quality relationships.

It’s completely hands off (which is required for real estate in IRA’s) allowing me to concentrate on additional active income...

Are you going to be a part timer who is going to concentrate their time on a well paying career? 

Also, you will probably hold this property for the rest of your life so you will need multiple reliable tenants over the years.The only way I know to constantly have a reliable tenant is to purchase a property that attracts a tenant segment with a high concentration of reliable tenants.

Let them concentrate on the skilled stuff. 

I would concentrate on your strengths and get started doing activities based on them.

My (i think) mechanical engineering professor (we had to take core courses in all different engineering disciplines even though I concentrated in electrical) told us a story about how ucla at the time had a program where medical students were able to take and get credit for some engineering classes.  

Also, as a starter, would you buy a multi-family or concentrate on the singles?

They will start to bring you deals and push your offers thru.Geographic concentration provides logistical benefits.Consider…….When you are ready to buy a 50 unit property in a certain market, you will have far more street cred to tell broker and seller - yeah I already own a quad, a sixplex, etc in Indy and I love this market.