My piece of advice would be to try to take advantage of as much free education as possible with podcasts, forums like these, YouTube, and other real estate investors.

Done right 2%/month return on asset value is possible. 

Quote from @Blair Ross Jr: Is it possible to purchase SFR or duplex rental with less then 15% out of pocket?

@Byoung Baejust for a countervailing perspective - the macro environment is just about the worst it could possibly be right now for you to pick a random market in a random state and shell out $50K or more to get a random property and then turn it over to random people you haven't met.  

My plan for this year is improve my credit, get my real estate license (to increase my income on top of my W-2), possibly career transition into the property management space (to learn more), and save as much as possible and learn as much as I can.I’d love to house hack close to home but my area is so expensive it seems like it’d be close to impossible. 

Quote from @Sabian Ripplinger: i want to possibly use hard money this year to grow quicker   and can you use them for new builds  who should i use and  any tips?   

I have never been able to utilize any DPA with any deal as of now, but it is fun to keep it as a possible tool for use in the right situation. 

I am going to put this as bluntly as possible:  Condominiums in the Smokies are not good investments.

Not likely), vacancy (@ 8% for me), and a possible PM (10% normally).I recommend you reach out to a local seasoned investor and have them run your #s with you, as the #s depend on how you manage it (how hands on you are) and also local pricing.

I say take a gamble for anyone in which its even possibly feasible for and trust they're process.