I totally understand wanting to get started investing and I applaud you.

If he /,she understands remodeling and good deals he/ she will send them your way.These are the starters.Good luck Dave

Nothing wrong with investing there, but just understand that things are typically "cheap" and "expensive" for a reason. 

An understanding of local rental rates may be gained via websites such as Craigslist, Rentometer, and Zillow.

Need to understand your taxable income as well to know if it benefits holding them for depreciation.

Just to make sure I understand, what are you planning to do with the property?  

Quote from @Kevin Barry:  Not exactly sure how this would work to make sure we are taking advantage of the loss reported for our own personal taxes.Good news:Your understanding of the process is correct.

Consider how that might effect the future sale of a property.The real estate agent or broker who is helping you buy a multi-family property should understand the pros and cons and help guide you through the process of where your money is best spent regarding washers/dryers.

Get a solid understanding of the business via going to local REIA's, signing up for free webinars and attending events4.

Whether it's financing, finding the right property, understanding the market, overthinking the process, or something else, I am interested to hear your experiences and challenges.