Below are some links for you.https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2013/04/09/how-to-buy-a-small-multifamily-property/ (How to buy a small multifamily property)http://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2014/07/19/how-to-buy-a-duplex/(guide to buying a duplex)https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2015/11/16/how-to-choose-areas-multifamily-deals/ (Choosing multi-family deals) BP Podcast 061:How to Succeed in Multifamily Investing – A Unique Conversation with Josh, Brandon, and BenBP Podcast 131: Investing in Multifamily Properties in a HOT Real Estate Market with Serge Shukhathttps://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2013/03/07/profitable-ethical-landlord/FHA 3 1/2% percent or Seller financing, great way to start.

Thank you for the advice.I have to admit that I like the idea of approaching the owner about him buying my unit, but I am sure that he sees me as "one of the many" and not a unique person who he would open himself up to for a purchase. 

There are some special rules for unique circumstances such as divorce or a disregarded entity (single member LLC that does not elect to be taxed as a corporation). 

However, I would be lying if I said managing 22 apartments plus our SFRs is a trivial task while working 50 hours a week, helping the kids with their homework and activities, having dates with my wife, being active in our church and neighborhood, etc., etc.

Your costs will certainly go up in the short term but unless you want to be a full time handyman and landlord I would lean towards outsourcing some of the tasks that could free you up to find more deals.

A skiptracer is someone who performs this task, which may be the person's primary occupation.Skiptrace - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SkiptraceWikipediaLoading...

My current goals are to begin with my first flip in early 2016, eventually getting into buy & hold real estate as well, since my lease is up in 11 months, I'll probably use my VA loan and look into house-hacking next year as well.I'm thinking of looking somewhere in the range of 35k-60k houses and hopefully making profits of 10-20k (not positive how realistic this goal is yet until I narrow down to a particular zip code)After that will be the fun task of searching for a lender, but I won't get into that too deeply as my first step is choosing a farm area (if that's even necessary here) My girlfriend and I have been considering Hollywood, based on how it's getting more and more attractions in that city (margarita-ville for example) but I'd love to get some advice from the experts who know this area much better than I!

It looks like you want the compensation of this partner to be tied to something other than just hours worked.Your priorities seem to be finishing the various rehab tasks quickly and with quality.

You want something unique that says "you" and only you, something memorable and easily identifiable.

I've gotten to learn a lot about the apartment business through working with the maintenance men and helping out in the managers office, along with every other little task that no one else had the time to do.