Interested in engaging in some real estate investing activities there within the 6 mos - 1 year.

In these you are purchasing ownership of a company or entity that owns real estate and not the real estate itself.However there is a hierarchy of real estate ownership that complies with 1031 treatment and runs the range from active to passive.  

In the meantime I am active in this market looking to acquire 200+ units in the next 1 to 2 years from Midtown to the Northeast.

People are seeking out places where they can get yield and cash flow.Before places like Phoenix and Atlanta used to be hot rental markets but now it seems people are buying more in places like Cleveland , Indianapolis , Kansas City , Birmingham,AL.etc The other markets are still hot even though people might not be able to cash flow well because the general economy is doing well , unemployment is half or less than it was during the recession in many of these places and people want to live in those places .

Active investor also looking into investing in New Orleans.   

Will either partner be the "boots on the gorund" i.e. managing day-to-day activities on their own time?

@Roy Gottesdiener i think you should seek a legal and financial advice to ask a about your situation and start from there.

If you're not adding significant equity, just seek out a traditional loan with no PMI from day 1.

You should seek out a local real estate agent who knows investment properties, and start looking at everything you can in your target areas.

Any suggestions on how to actively invest while being a salesperson?