Just a quick note @Caroline Gerardo that raw land can qualify for 1031 treatment. 

Hi everyone,My name is Jess Derr and I live in Charles Town (not to be confused with Charleston!)

There's so much to learn in the industry, glad you have a plan of how you want to invest.You're in a great market in the Phoenix area, I invest and live in the area myself.

@Victor Nguyen for starting out either is fine if the numbers work, but if you do a duplex I would recommend starting with the a side-by-side duplex the first time you do one rather than a multi-floor building.The reason being is that managing multis (duplexes) with tenants living over each other come with different problems such as noise complaints, and can limit your options accepting pets.

I would live in the vacant unit.

You've lived in the property for at least a year which is the expectation for FHA loans.

Not to say that you can't jump to long distance investing right away but if you don't have any experience I would try to at least invest in one property within a 1-2 hour drive from where you live.

You would just open one in the state you live in (or the state you're investing in). 

You need to keep in mind the person that was living in your property is a seasoned lowlife.

There are other cash shortfalls that will come up, which you will need to cover, especially if your stretched at the very start.Work on your own living arrangements as your first investment.