However, due to a job loss and my wife on extended maternity leave - we are less than attractive investors looking to buy.My question is, given this newly found abundance of time on my hands (with less than optimal finances available at the moment to invest), what would experienced RE investors recommend as a great avenue to get my feet wet and prepped for when I can buy and rehab my own properties while also helping build that nest egg to start?

After you’ve done a few deals of that type of strategy you can move on.I think house hacking is a great way to get your feet wet in rental investing, especially if you can find a duplex or so and live in one half and rent out the other half.

@Alex Spahman, rehab costs vary alot based on different factors like which city, what finishes, do you have good connections with local contractors,...I will be happy to connect and give you some ballparks, but again this may vary quite a lot.To get your feet wet, you may want to get 2-3 quotes from local contractors.

I'd start with a house hack to get your feet wet.

Im looking to self manage this first one and get my feet wet. 

Should we start out by seeking smaller Multi-Fam such as 12-24 units to get our feet wet and gain experience or should we invest a 100k passively on a much larger deal like a 200+ unit with our mentor/coach and learn that way?

Probably doesn't have French drains and a sump pump so wet basements are common...neither are deal breakers in my mind.

If something requires a physical touch such as the solidity of a floor or if there's give to a wet spot on a wall, you can have the remote person do it. 

Hey all, I’m 16 years old and have been extremely eager to start getting my hands wet in real estate.

Now a days in our market here for new construction they got away from draining to the street. ( save the Salmon) and so now we have to do on site containment.. this includes gutters to the downspouts that then tie into a line that takes the water to either an above ground rain garden. ( IE concrete box with plants that thrive in the wet. ) or like in my project in Canby OR  to the back yard were we have to dig a little mini drain field like you would  a septic system.. so water all drains from the roof to this little drain field in the back yard..