Honestly...turn your truck into a library and listen to podcasts...Biggerpockets, BP Money, Real Estate Guys, DIY Money, Listen Money Matters, plus so many more Real Estate Podcasts.  

My goal is to acquire buy & hold rental properties long-distance and put systems in place to manage those properties to increase my passive income to free up time allowing me more family time and time to venture into other interests.

If the numbers don't make sense, I'd definitely recommend venturing out to other locations.

I have seen many DIY or rehabs done by property owners and while the work might pass, the quality is usually **** and anyone with a "trained" eye can see the flaws.

Before you take this venture, check into the price of license renewals with the state, cost to be a member of the MLS and the cost of brokerage fees.

(I don't see managing properties in a different state than you reside in being a profitable venture, only if you have established boots on the ground.

Turnkeys, me and a bunch of people on here can help with those (that's what I buy out-of-state), and DIY, there's a book from David Greene a lot of people talk about on here that might be a good start. 

I did not know until last week that they were already lending in other real estate ventures. 

The reason I ask is because I have plenty of people who would go 50/50 with me on multiple properties, but I will not qualify for mortgages so I was trying to see what the best way to work around that is.Hey AJ,From my own personal Joint Ventures with other partners where I need a qualifier, it's best to not have you on title if your partner can qualify by him/herself.

For the DIY route, David Greene has a book out a lot of people read.