Assuming the getting educated part is included in the pick a niche and sub-niche. 

I want to know how soon I can leverage this property and use its equity to buy another multi-family.

Lack of capital and gurus with a program pushing wholesaling giving the idea it's easy.Easier to get the money to just buy than the years of education and experience to know how to wholesale properly.I always wonder why they don't hold.

What you can afford is based on your current DTI (Debt-to-Income), your reserves (what savings you have eligible for a downpayment), your credit score, and then of course, what your future goals are (i.e. how you want to appropriately leverage yourself for future acquisitions).PM if you'd like to know a little more info.

Syndicated deals are most often done with financing than not, although I have participated in some where only investor money was used - ie: not leveraged up front. 

It is awesome that you want to get started educated and investing early!

Greetings all- I'm renting properties in an area where there is an increasing number of highly educated immigrants seeking rentals near our major universities.

By the end of program they own a part of a building in their own community in which their profits go toward their college education.

every time I hire a contractor,   I get an education, as we all know a good education is expensive sometimes.  

That could be $1K non-refundable fee PLUS $30/mo.2)  Use the lease as leverage, but likely don't evict.