Which way to go? Investing or Paying Debt!

[Justin Dean]

I have been having a tough time balancing paying off debts vs saving for investments at this point in my life. I am currently working as a nurse and make decent money for the South Georgia area. 

I love being in the healthcare field, so I am not looking for a job/career change. I am looking to transition from Bedside and Emergency Room nursing to possibly teaching or acting as a clinical coordinator for the hospitals/college later in life. This would be too spend more time with family. Due to this I feel that cashflow is the biggest thing I am after. 

I do live in South Georgia where there is a rich cash flow area for lower class homes that need renovations. My biggest issue though is deciding my next step.

Should I be investing head long into the cashflowing properties in my area or paying down debts first to improve my debt to income ratio and monthly expenses. 

With my current income and work ethics I could pay off consumer debts in nearly 6 months to a year, but would of course miss the opportunities potentially in the area of real estate investing. 

Which do many of you recommend?