And are there any meet up groups you would recommend joining for real estate investing ?

Do you have a recommendation on how to find local investor friendly agents or where to find wholesalers in my market? 

Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

Does anyone have any recommendations of first time home buyer grants or down payment assistance programs for New York State?

I would recommend you begin researching Chicago based meetups as there are a bunch of really good ones.

Who are great property managers in Atlanta you would recommend for my circumstance?  

Buildium is commonly recommended for smaller PM companies.

However, if they are still considered a short-term guest under lodging rules, you may have more flexibility, though the specifics can depend on local regulations in Seattle.Since this can become a legal gray area, I recommend documenting all agreements, payments, and communication with the guest.

I recommend looking for a duplex, triplex, or fourplex.

Most professionals will recommend a separate LLC for every $1 million in assets, but I don't think that's necessary.