New Guy currently renting

[Trevor Shell]

Hello BP member! My name is Trevor. I'm 27 years old and I am currently living in Atlanta, GA. I'm becoming more obsessed with Bigger Pockets by the day. I have a couple of questions that I'd like to ask the good people of BP in order to see how others would advise me as I get started in Real Estate Investing. So here's the deal. I have about $30k in liquid cash that I'm wanting to invest into some sort of real estate property. I am also currently renting an apartment that In which I live (1,200/month). I'm most interesting a buy and hold philosophy. My goal is to have steady incoming cashflow long term. One problem in running into is that I own my own business and it is a little difficult to get a loan for the amount that I would need to buy a house. Especially on the north side of Atlanta, it seems like the places I would live in are out my price range. So I feel like I can go a couple of different directions. 1. I can wait longer, continue to build up more cash, and likely get a loan for a place to live in 6-8months from now. 2. I can invest in some smaller properties with a partner out of state. These properties are $35-45k in value. They rent for around $6-800/month.With my partner I could buy the property with cash and refinance 80% of my money back out. This would allow me to start incoming cashflow and in a year or so, I could by my own place to live in. 3. I could buy a duplex/triplex on my own to live in and rent other half out. Again, we run into a little problem with acquiring a mortgage. 4. Some alternative that I'm not seeing? So what do you guys think? All advice is very much appreciated.