Although I haven’t worked with him personally, he helped one of my investor clients acquire a few multi family properties a couple years back.

Have you considered a personal loan from a local credit union or from SOFI?

Liability for Personal Air Conditioning UnitsThe use of personal air conditioning units in the premises is at the tenant's own risk.

We are hoping by joining BiggerPockets we can get help from like-minded persons and communicate for help.

Hiring an extra person does not seem like the right step.

In most cases, the lender will require the person who is providing the capital to sign for the mortgage.

@Neil SmithPull a list from the auditor of what you're looking to call, load it into a dialer, call the numbers and ask to speak with the owner (their first name) - Introduce yourself by being personable (Who you are(first and last name - age/background), where you're from(local guy), and get straight to the point - why you want to buy and if they're interested in hearing an offer on their property - it's like a quick handshake over the phone. 

One maintenance person can stop by 4 properties in one day to take care of issues.

Personally, I prefer purchasing a property that is not new construction.

My personal favorite is "The Unofficial Guide to Real Estate Investing" by Spencer Strauss.