Lawns can go to hell quickly, I wouldn't expect a tenant to maintain it and do a good job. 

Hi Quinton,This may or may not be applicable to you, but if by "unemployed" you mean "on temporary disability, but my job is waiting for me when I get better, and we have an estimated return to work date," than this would be a scenario where ADA trumps ATR and you can still get a traditional mortgage.Fannie guideline on long-term/permanent disability, on social security disability, and on what may be applicable to you: "temporary leave income," which includes short term medical disabilities.For that last one:Just like women/men on maternity/paternity/pregnant leave, a gap between temporarily reduced income due to medical condition, and your normal income, can be made up for using asset depletion.

I have recently been able to land my first grown up job making more than minimum wage.

Equity Trust does a really good job and has very helpful customer service to walk you through the process.

@Justin FoxGreat job.

Expenses are deducted on a proportional ratio on Schedule A/Schedule E.

Have you thought of trying to get a job in one of the real estate offices?  

I watched a video recently on a guy whose strategy in choosing a multifamily investment location is to find slower job growth.

The market here is relatively expensive, we both have pretty good jobs, but would like to avoid using our entire savings to get this off the ground. 

The market here is relatively expensive, we both have pretty good jobs, but would like to avoid using our entire savings to get this off the ground.