I would recommend reading about investing first and getting a solid foundation of terms and processes under your belt. 

Once you get your sea legs and have some real world experience under your belt, you can do anything you want.

Learn the ropes close to home and get some "seat time" under the belt before you expand to farther distances.....This is all predicated on being able to buy close to home....some markets make it near impossible for a new investor to buy close to home.

You may be right, but can't hurt to ask, and if they say no, promise you'll get back to them when you have 1 or 2 under your belt. 

everyone who lives in CA should start there and get a CA property under there belt because history has shown if U own it 20 plus years your going to be smiling even if that's the ONLY property you ever buy.then look else where ..

@Brian Garrett And @George Blower Thanks for the welcome message. 

Can't wait to get deal #2 under my belt!!

I do not need a partner to do this but I do want to get a few cycles under my belt with small risk/small reward before I get to larger projects.   

I have started with family home builds and have several under my belt, will continue to learn and take it to the next level.

A 5 ton FAU, blower and condenser are going to be pretty much the same cost.I would think of it as an upgrade on a rental....we've had them in the past with no breakdown issues.....