Hi Zack,  I'm a newbie too and learning a ton by watching BP videos and surfing these forums. 

@John Underwood: Not ideal, that's for sure.

Invest a TON of time into yourself right now by watching YouTube videos, podcasts and reading blogs.

I have some videos on BP on this topic as well. 

Ideally, you have a couple close relationships you can speak candidly to about your thoughts, and if those relationships are also people who would be interested in investing, you are able to pick their brain on deal structures they would invest in, and therefore kill two birds with one stone.

Just watched a video explaining how Zillow is selling between 60-70% of homes they bought in markets like Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, and Atlanta for a loss.

Ideally I'd save up but hoping to make this happen quickly and don't have the full amount.

As I am located in Michigan, this is not ideal.

Both are possible but with the wealth of knowledge resources available, getting a private lending partner through networking would be ideal to fund those first acquisitions.Exhausting those contacts, referral, cold calls to locate one will get you going

And ideally, hire an agent who knows the city inside and out.