Full Time Real Estate

[Matthew Barbaccia]

Hey everyone! My name is Matt and I'm a new REI in Kailua-Kona HI. I purchased my first property here in town this past May 2020, it's a 2-2 condo on a 30yr fixed mortgage. I've just finished upgrading and I have tenants moving in around mid-February for a 6 month lease. I plan to rent this property out as an investment property for long term buy and hold. I am also now looking for another property that will cashflow and appreciate in a similar way.

I'm reaching out because I'm at a fork in the road with my career path. I'm considering leaving my full time job as a high school math teacher to pursue real estate full time, I've been in education for four years now, since I graduated from college where I studied Biomedical Engineering (my life has taken me on a wild ride so far). It sounds ambitious but I am ready for a change in the pace of my work-life balance, and for an opportunity to work towards a career that shows more potential for growth over time. I respect and love teaching but I need to find something new. 

My question is: 

1) If you are someone who made a similar pivot in your career to focus more on REI and passive income streams, what was the make or break that made that transition work or what lessons did you learn from leaving your full time job?

2) What type of work should I be searching for with a technical background in engineering, a masters in education, and an entrepreneurial mindset towards the future?

I'm grateful for any advice or guidance that comes my way,

-Matt