New to Jacksonville Beach Investment

[Thea Linkfield]

Hey Bigger Pockets!

I am new to this site and a real estate investing virgin, but I'm eager to get started. I'm looking to invest in a property in or around the Jacksonville Beach area and I'd love some guidance. I'm looking to either fix and rent or fix and flip. My initial question is:

Is there a better option for more profit between SFH, condos, and duplexes? Condos tend to come with HOA fees which is a huge red flag for me if I can't flip fast.

Also, I'm looking to turn real estate investment into a full time career in the next couple of years. I graduated with a general civil engineering degree a year and a half ago and have my EIT and was wondering if anyone has any ideas as to how I could use this degree for real estate investing. To start out, I plan on doing as much of the work around the house as I can (with the help of my dad who has flipped many houses). I already have a decent paying full time job as a field engineer for a company un-related to residential construction, so I don't get any experience in the structural aspect. I don't think I should seek a job at a residential construction company if I know I'd want to leave in the next 3 years, but I'm not sure. Any advice?