These educational routes have structured curriculums beginning with very basic information and then build upon the basics to varying degrees of complexity.

Thank youYour question is much too complex to answer completely here.I aggree with John Hanson that you should form your business structure in your own state.

How would you enter the market if you wanted a confidence infusion and a low complexity scenario?

Greetings,I am in the process of purchasing a 32 unit complex.

I say that and I'm making an offer today on another apartment complex.

You may be a "Preferred Type".If you don't come across as a Hobo or a Tramp, and your demeanor is not scary to people, and your not actively using drugs, you're best bet to solve the problem quickly is to look for a room mate situation.Try to find someone in your general age bracket who is renting a room (Craigslist roommates wanted).Don't be too picky at first about fixing old furniture, just get inside and then try to move up later.Then be a good "Clean" roommate who causes no problems and pays your portion of the rent on time.You can find these situations in apartment complexes and in homes.Some will be month to month vs a longer lease. 

these are complex transactions.. and ton of risk to the seller.. lots of bad actors will take advantage of the situation. 

Build equity and credibility, use that plus leverage to get a bigger property with my money and OPM, rinse and repeat until I’m selling smaller units and trading in for larger 50-100 unit apartment complexes.

For instance, I have considered trying to take up an analyst role at a REIT another RE company that ideally looks at large apartment complexes so that I can see how those deals come together on a large scale.

Are the projects you do all larger complexes, or can it be done on residential lots with clusters?