Our plan is to hold onto this property and eventually rent (in 3 - 5 years).

Right now you prepare yourself no rent and eventually an eviction possibility.From your last post, it looks to me that they are initiating communication with the tenant right now.

Eventually I will add more tools from the list as I perfect them one at a time.

The market is very competitive, but I'm hoping persistence will pay off and I will eventually get a good deal.

Being that multi-family properties don't appreciate well comparatively to SFHs, and I don't need cash flow right away until I am ready to quit my job, I was thinking that I could use the cash flow on all of the properties to aggressively pay down the loans as fast as possible and eventually skyrocket the cash flow. 

While you can increase your chances of NOT getting screwed with your zip code based approach, you will eventually get screwed because you buy in the City of Detroit block-by-block.Put another way, I can take you to the best zip code from your analysis and show you houses you'd be a fool to buy.I can also take you to the worst zip codes and show you houses that would be a pretty solid investment.

My current plan is to purchase small multifamily homes (in and out of state) and eventually move into apartment complexes.    

Keep at it- youre taking action which WILL eventually pay off...

I am a new REI from Athens, AL with one rental property in NC, and my primary residence which I plan on eventually turning into a rental property as well.

A personal guarantee should be fairly straight forward, but I’d use an attorney to draft all the documents since if this eventually goes sideways, you’ve got major dollars and headaches involved.