Search the site for recent forum threads on this subject; you will find a wealth of information.I always recommend that OOS investors look for places that are easier to get to and places that you want to visit since you will be going there regularly. 

I’ve ‘lurked’ boards, read books and blogs but just haven’t been able to actually make a move beyond a personal traditional real estate purchase.

I know these sites don't mean to mislead but the numbers are done by humans who are not investors; so make a point of doing your own.

Welcome to the site @Whitney T Redfield

You may actually be able to set it up direct with Fidelity and skip the set up fee, but their site has great info on the various options. 

a majority of the bigger pockets community would agree that multifamily (aka apartment) investing is more lucrative and scalable than single family investing. you are in the right place to find out more about multifamily investing, search the blogs and forums to find all the information you will need.

@Aaron Lawson @Henri Meli have you guys come up with a software/program to search for these multifamily properties other than county property appraiser sites?

Check out my blog article on this as well: https://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/10145/72001-ge...

I have written about this topic extensively, much of it on the BP blog ;)

I ran across a great blog that outlined the process quite well.