My advice to my daughter and son-in-law as they did not want multi-family, either, and wanted to buy a home to live in,  not just investment property, was to buy something that needs some work, plan to fix it up within the 2-year tax-credit time period, sell and keep profits tax-free, then buy another one that needs work and repeat until children need a solid school district.   

I know there is normally a seasoning period for the original property but from what I've read it seems like your original intention is what really matters.I had no intention of selling, but I also didn't know I might make a quick 30k.

Don’t sell, you had a huge surge toward wealth in a short period of time.

Then spend some time educating yourself prior to making any decisions!

Your question should be, How do I add value to a multifamily investor so that he teaches me how to invest.Your first step should be to invest in your education and begin to devour podcasts and booksGino

I wish more folks posted in this manner, as it provides the roadmap, and allows for deeper inspection/education at each stage.  

I am hoping the education and access to MLS will aid me in finding better deals. 

YOU DO NOT need to go an expensive school to have a good job, and to be honest I don't think you need a college degree period.

I'm currently in the due diligence period of closing on my first rental property.

If you combine avoiding closed cities with MSAs that are growing and/or have more tax/business friendly outlooks and invested outside of them you stand a good chance of making some money. what I find is that unlike here in our market in PDX  many of the folks I know out in the mid west send there kids to private academy's this has a direct effect on how much house they can own.. there is far more private education in those areas than we have here probably 10 to 1.. that is a great point.