Growing and developing my professional vision while helping others reach their goals is how I'd like my story to read in the end.

If you were to jump off the deep end it would be less stressful to put it in the hands of a professional and you can bypass the learning experience.The second issues is money - it typically takes a LOT more money to buy a larger complex. 

Also, professionals do not always agree on the best way to calculate the ultimate return on real estate.

I've hired a PM because I don't know all of the laws, don't want to deal with the details, and trusted a professional to do a professional job.

Professional liability, general liability, anything else? 

You might have different options if property was held in an LLC and the transactions were real bank transactions to your LLC account, but even then, its a wash since LLC is pass through to personal and you would be recording both an expense and an income resulting in no benefit(not a tax professional. just opinion.)source:https://pocketsense.com/can-declare-rental-properties-primary-residences-8116.html

Last year my wife quit her job in California and now lives here too; she manages the apartment building and the duplexes are professionally managed for now. 

ALWAYS verify info on an application.....newsflash....tenants lie.......Best hope is that you can nullify the lease based on false info.....you may have a professional deadbeat on your hands....good luck....get a lawyer.....

Maybe rent a house with other young professionals and save up lots of $$$ for a few years.As for developing areas like Mosaic,I see the new Silver line areas having a shot, projected completion I believe is 2020.

It should give you an idea about hiring a tax professional, too.