@Paige Gardner HM is a great way to get started however understand that it is SHORT TERM FINANCING 6-18 months. 

I started researching and then bought in 2021-2022 then paused to stabilize and get a better lay of the land.

Buy some books and start learning how to manager your property now.

I then spoke with the buyer and his agent, suggesting we use a commercial lender I had worked with for over a decade, who could provide an answer within 24 hours, contingent on a new appraisal.

., $300 for paint and supplies) and add a fair hourly rate for labor.

@Andrew Self lack of two years of employment history is not a deal breaker depending on what you were doing prior to starting your salary job.

My goal, over the next five years, is to utilize real estate in lieu of my current hourly consulting income, by building a portfolio of rentals.  

Do you think purchasing a property in Philadelphia, PA, and managing it remotely from Westchester, NY (Roughly 2-2.5 hours away) with the help of a local handyman would be too much of a stretch?

Would you have or know where I could find an example lease to use as a starting point?

For those just starting out: keep taking consistent action and small steps.