On the other hand the further out you go, the less likely is your property to appreciate and the less likely is your rent to rise and harder to rent.I personally like to invest close to where i live and where i work because i know those areas pretty well and i don't want to be driving 2 hours to check on the properties.It also depends how much you want to be involved.

As @Braden Smith said, speak to an attorney (specifically, a Real Estate attorney who is not involved in the transaction in any way).

I assume they tell me to get a contractor to add a meter (looks easy) and run independent sewer outflows from each house (might involve an act of Congress)?

If the home has a loan on it, there is a creditor involved, and as I stated, no one is doing anything with the home that has a loan on it with a creditor until the trustee says so. 

This involves:1 - Breaking away from a home owner mentality with regards to money and investing.2 - Using "$$$" for analysis, and eliminate almost all use of "%%".3 - Learning, and following, the 2 Golden Rules of REI...to be succesfull4 - Understanding the meaning of this number sequence, 1073741824, and how it applies to REI...that's the start.

Originally posted by @Chris Connolly:I believe you are able to do the repairs yourself, if you're hiring someone, they might have to be certified (or that's only when you KNOW that there's lead paint, ie having it tested or it show up in the disclosure) "The law requires contractors to get certified in lead-safe work practices if their work disturbs more than 6 square feet of paint on the interior or a 20-square-foot section on the exterior of a home built before 1978." 

I have been invited by a fellow that is a member of Biggerpockets to be involved in buying and selling single family homes and I might go into that because of my brother who has plenty of experience and is knowledgeable in that field and he has offered to help me.The reason I chose apartments is that I have been convinced of it ultimately because of all I have learned that it is the best way to go long term and ultimately you can hire a Property Management Company that will take care of the daily operations and that managing a property management company will not very time consuming. 

My goals involve building long-term wealth through buying and holding rental properties, however, my largest barrier to entry is obtaining down payment a such a hot market.Since graduating in 2016, I have been working as a digital marketing consultant and paying $850/mo in rent living with 3 others.

For any kind of investing that will be time sensitive, involve multiple assets, or assets that generate a lot of transaction activity, these checkbook plans will be much more efficient and effective in terms of time, paperwork and expense.As I noted, there are several quality providers of both types of services here on BP.

I really want to get involved in Real Estate Investing with Rental Homes first, after a few, add a couple vacation properties, then may a few commercial units.