Also, as many have said- it's smart to start off close to home if possible.

You are likely competing with a lot of unsophisticated buyers who have money and hear owning a 4 plex is a smart investment.5.

@Brady Ascheman To make the decision strictly from a Property Management standpoint you have to calculate your vacancy cost and cost to acquire a new tenant to know if a rental increase is even a smart play. 

Supplement this far simpler entity approach by ensuring you have appropriate types and levels of insurance, you operate your business in a manner in which your conduct is not considered an exclusion in your policy, you work with licensed and insured vendors, you execute contracts with indemnification clauses with these same vendors/ require additional insured status &  maintain appropriate licensing and permits.

There are a lot more things that occur as part of the contract that would be included including valuations for each parcel, specific tax consequences, proffers offered to the city etc. 

Be smart. 

Alternatively, once you have a full time job (or an employment contract), you should be able to qualify for a loan and utilize a Down Payment Assistance program.

Learn the lawsDon't use a contract "off the internet", laws vary by state and are also regulated on a federal level Learn the financing techniques correctlyDon’t skip parts of the processDon’t ever do a “kitchen table” closingUse the proper deedAn attorney can help you with the legal work, but the rest you are on your ownYour guru will not bail you out“Investing” in someone else’s deal by providing a small 2nd loan so the “investor” can pay for “cash to the seller” and for “closing costs” so he can do the deal is a very bad planKnow what problems can ariseLearn the responses and solutions to problems before they are needed Know everything there is to know about Title and what that meansKnow who a "protected class" individual isLearn the "back doors"Learn human natureUnderstand timelinesUnderstand regulation enforcement (some of these "mistakes" have a 10 year statue of limitations ( they can charge you 10 years AFTER you do the transaction) and carry hefty fines and possible imprisonmentThe court doesn't accept "I didn't know" for an answer"Know that the source of the lead plays a serious role in some states and federallyKnow how much of a "profit" pushes the boundaries to invite an investigationYou can be sued by the seller if you don’t do things correctlyYou are automatically at fault if an investigator or attorney or regulator gets involved.

That’s just smart, strategic thinking.

If not, the only requirement may be filing plans with the dept of buildings.One of our contractors does the bulk of his work on contracts with NYC.Mainly work related to bathrooms & tiles/flooring, I will shoot you a PM if I can get any information on this.All the best!