I've been reading and learning a lot recently about how to calculate ROI, and eval good rental cash flow.

Are there stable employers around it?  

.#3 you might want to read the property code regarding redemption rights...as it is outlined there and not difficult to read.  

That being said, I have no experience in real estate outside of the articles and videos I've read and watched from BiggerPockets.

Here is where we are: I've talked to one broker recommended here and Wells Fargo, provided the same info to both: our credit score is 800, and both of us employed for over 10 yrs.  15 yr loan of around $390k, signed contract tomorrow or Monday.  

Stay motivated, read and research, and you will do well. 

You will probably get people saying that's a bad idea but I've read of cases where it worked out.But definitely see what you would get approved for and go from there .

Reading from your initial post, are you house hacking this?

It's wonderful to read other success stories and goals.

I'm currently reading a couple commercial real estate books (one of which is a textbook) where the author speaks of some of their own experiences (for example, incorrectly verifying all owners of a MF he was trying to purchase thus being unable to sue for breach of contract when they backed out).