But I lack some key skills and knowledge that are hard to learn without intensive advice, practice and feedback.

It's tough, but it's how a lot of people get their start.It took several months of intense work before finding my first deal.

I have not actually taken it but from what I hear from people that have is it's intense.

The poster who supported paying lot rent directly to the park manager referred to his "tenants", indicating that he is maybe a bit more intensive in screening buyers and managing them once they have moved in.

IE its not really a business service....Unless you've run a larger (38 rentals is larger than small) rental business, with a range of un-banked, small town tenants no bank account, tenants with banks but varied banks, some with banks but no check books but can do bill pay you won't understand the scope of this problem.Try to do rent rolls with 38 folks all paying via DIFFERENT channels, means, times, etc is a nightmare and very error prone and labor intensive.   

Do you want to build up a larger pool of cash for your investments, knowing that it will likely be more time intensive when you start?  

There a ton of people out there and on the forums who own dozens or even hundreds of rental units.If you are self managing it will obviously be more time intensive to have that triplex in addition to your duplex, but still very possible for 1 person to take on.Michael's feedback above is incorrect. 

But to come out of pocket with cash to pay for the 4th unit and then wait on cash flow to pay you back, those are rough numbers...I've no experience adding a unit to a property, but it sounds complicated, expensive and time intensive. 

Hi Natalie,There are some great cashflow markets in upstate NY where you can secure properties very cheaply and get an awesome cap rate.These types of markets and properties are very time intensive as they are situated in a lower socio economic area.Well done on saving the $8,000.Before I became a full time investor I worked as a laborer and it took me 4 years of very hard work before I managed to save a decent deposit ($40,000) to kick start my real estate venture.IMO you will need a bit more capital to get cracking but until then keep living and breathing real estate and ask questions or other investors that are already where you want to be.Thanks for reading and have a great day.

It is not a hobby, and it can be very cash intensive.