-Have about $30k in savings and usually able to put $2k in savings every month unless I'm paying for some other expense like a vacation or Christmas presents or an emergency-I have no other means of retirement accounts (no 401ks or anything like that)Where we live now, we know it wasn't going to be our "forever" home.  

I don't mean to go against the grain of those who are selling that idea - all I can say is that it did not work for me.So.......... back to taking seminars, buying cassette tapes and books - I wanted to learn everything I could about investing in real estate ---- so--I had to get money, working capital, and I needed to go on the cheap - A friend told me about cheap properties you could buy in Baltimore - houses for only $2-3,000 and many of them could be found at public auctions.After borrowing some money and getting some credit cards and a new job - one in sales - I was ready - ready to invest in cheap- junk properties in the City.And wouldn't you know it - I got lucky at my first auction and purchased a cheap house that was boarded up - Because of all those expensive seminars I enrolled in I WAS READY - prepared with my pry-bar, flash light, level, marble and probe - I decided to go to this building that was being auctioned the next day - I sort of removed some plywood and crawled through a window to take a look -Boy was I surprised - this place looked great - I later found out that the estate boarded it to keep squatters out.The next day - I was ready with my deposit and waiting for the auctioneer to start his melodious hypnotic chant - 5 bidders appeared but did not bid because they could not get it - I was the only bidder and got the house real cheap.Today as an auctioneer, investor and developer of commercial properties - if someone would ask my opinion on how to get started I would suggest ---Continue to study but learn how to cut through the BSGet a credit line Learn 20 creative financing techniques - no money down systems (that is none of your own money)Hang with a few successful investors and pick - pick - pick their brain*** Look at 50 houses in the area you intend to invest (not expensive, blue collar, mixed rental and home owner neighborhoods)When you are finished looking at 50 properties - you will be armed with knowledge that most agents and other investors don't have - knowledge of values -Keep a journal, put listings in it, write down everything the agent or owner says, keep a record of the cost per square foot - this will help determine values -Have agents send you expired listings - go knock on the door or send a letter to ask if they are still accepting offers on the property - Remember an expired listed is a property that failed to sell - the seller should still be motivated to sell. 

There is also repair expenses, closing costs, business license (possibly), LLC fees maybe, Insurance to protect you from claims made by tenants, vacancy and there are other expenses I'm sure I'm forgetting.  

You don't need one LLC per, though some folks do it that way for asset protection.Remember that all such business-related expenses should be fully deductible against taxable income.

Did you ask for the most recent Rent Roll and Expenses?

That aspect of it generally makes that type of financing slightly more expensive than a regular recourse loan, but usually not by much.

Our first objective is to make enough income from rent to cover our expenses, and then move into a single-family home.

The foreclosure process is complex and full of pitfalls, I would strongly suggest consulting with a Real Estate Attorney in your locality; depending on how your set up, you may be able to write off the expenses incurred in obtaing the legal advice. 

In other words, have I brought $300,000 to the table vs. my partner's $50,000 OR have we each brought $50,000 to the table, and the interest on the loan is just an expense like any other?

I haven't done this yet because I'm still searching for my first deal, but here's what I'm going to do when I find one.I certainly would ask for minimum 1 year operating expenses statement, and rent roll from the seller.You also want to get what's called an Estoppel agreement filled out from each of the tenants.