I am interested in buying a cash flow positive SFH or Duplex rental property to get started.   

I discovered bigger pockets, bought some books and I began buying rentals.Without providing a long drawn out explanation of my positions, just know that I have three 4 unit buildings now, a total of 12 units, all excellent deals, all cash flowing.

The OP can have the prospective tenant look it up online, and also ask the notary (from a “neutral” business location - not a possible friend of the OP) to explain what notarizing a doc means.If the prospective tenant would not be satisfied by going with a notary after reading 470PC (a felony, or at least a wobbler,) on top of the very acceptance of money for the property under false pretenses being a violation of 470PC (but criminals get away without being positively identified all the time) in itself, I’d, then, say that nothing would satisfy the tenant.I imagine that just mentioning the notary - without having anyone read the legal statute - should be enough.

He would be secured by a second position.

I agree with Amy that an emergency fund is critical - usually a guideline of 6 months of salary is what I hear.

You are definitely in a great position! 

I know good neighborhoods grow faster and higher, but the negative is gonna kill me, remember I am on a salary income, this is just a side investment, it cannot be too big and heavy on me !!

After you start building a portfolio and have a team in your target market, you will be in more equitable positions and have better ROI when you buy homes yourself and handle whatever renovations they need.

The grocery could be a big positive.

I’d posit that zoning isn’t what you need it to be and how long/easy/hard the rezoning process is will likely be highly dependent on the city.