There's even programs for down payment assistance, which make the down payment $0 for the buyer. 

If you’re unsuccessful with this program, you don’t know how to vet tenants.

They have a fairly reasonable onboarding program with little to no costs. 

And yes, it will take time, the "get-rich-quick" is 100% BS built to sell books and programs to lazy people, I know because I used to sell these for about $25K a pop to "rainbow chasers" when I first started in REI (yup, you caught that right, when I FIRST started I was selling over-priced BS "learn to get rich too" programs for $15k-$25k and people ate it up with a shovel). 

My name is Tony, and I work with the Biggerpockets Featured Agent Program!

QuickBooks is a great program for landlords because it allows us to pay a Vendor for a bill that belongs to a tenant, by writing a check to the Vendor, in this case the Water Company, and then selecting the Tenants name from the Customer:Job column on the check.  

I've looked into some local county downpayment assistance programs, I've heard advice about using either private or hard money lenders, I've also been told that it could be possible to use a credit card for the downpayment if I've got a high enough credit score.

I have other clients of mine that i have funded over the years and they do a turn key light program they will find  do the fix up for the OOS person and charge a fee ranging from 5k to 10k per property so you get the asset at cost you get the fix up at cost and you have a TRUE PRO who owns over 220 rentals himself managing your rehab.. worth every penny. 

FHA is a great starting point, also talk with local lenders about their first time home buyer programs, some have 0% down, no PMI, etc.

There are a few first time homeowner programs you can utilize in FHA & Conv.