Anything that is almost guaranteed to be used daily in your rentals (i.e. couches, bed, chairs), I'd try to invest in as much quality as you can for those specific items.Some store sites will let you filter for "contract grade" or "commercial grade" items - these are the sorts of furnishing that get put into higher-use commercial applications such as hotel lobbies, apartment building amenity spaces, etc. 

I learned this one from (now disgraced) real estate mentor John BeckWhat John used to do was go to tax auctions, and buy the odd, probably worthless lots nobody wanted.  

If you start with some buy and holds, test out some GC's on maintenance / small work then you can start building a relationship with someone and eventually get full blown BRRRR's / Flips going.

You'll want to do research on how much of the interest, if any, is deductible, because taxes also matter to me.  

Quote from @Brooke Roundy: I have a four unit building in Cleveland, one unit is an STR listed on Airbnb and the rest are LTRs.

I intend to sell one my single family homes (which I can avoid taxes on with the 2/5 primary residence clause) to obtain the needed capital. 

City services are dependent on property taxes and sales taxes.

@Pat QuarantoInvesting will take a certain level of knowledge at every step and you can do this or build a trusted team.

PM's I have vetted so far: Solid Rock (Tina) said they do not accept properties build before 2000 at this time. 

We haven’t filed personal taxes as our accountant extended after an accident so have no “income” shown through taxes.