Beg family and friends to fund it for you.They "might" do it if they see you've learned a lot and your business plan sounds very solid.How do I know this "might" work?

What's the plan with the property?

NOTE: we charge extra for this.4) What about a floor plan, so prospective tenants can get an idea where their furniture may fit?

I would like to start close to home as I plan to self manage the rental side of it.

Hey Jacob, do you plan on expanding the portfolio?

In order to do this you need to have deal flow and you need to know 1) How to recognize a good, profitable deal, 2) How to put together funds quickly to buy the deal before someone else does and in such a way where you are protected and the deal is protected, 3) How to run the project so that you follow the budget and don't overspend or overbuild, 4) How to attract an end buyer or a renter and which documents to use to protect yourself and the buyer, 5) If you are going to keep the property then you need to know how to set up the property from the start to best help you in the refinance later, and 6) You need to know how you are planning on managing the property from the beginning in order to make sure it will be profitable at the end.

I was told by another investor that I will run into a seasoning problem, but i don't see how if i don't plan on refinancing.

Hey there is someone in the house, maybe I should knock on the door and ask them a few questions...like are they planning to sell the tennis court? 

Suggest you get your game plan in place first then go forward once you have the goal in sight.

We just acquired an existing duplex in Fort Lauderdale and planning on tearing it down and build a new duplex instead.