Career Change - Need Advice

[Colby GeDeros]

Hey BP, I need some career advice. 

I am a Professional Civil Engineer with a 6 year background in the municipal/heavy civil construction industry. Although I've done design, analysis and other CE work in the past, my most valuable skill set is in project management where I have managed between 50-75 construction and design projects ranging from $25k - $10M.

Rewind to about 18 months ago; friends would ask me, "how is your job going?" To which, I would reply, "It's a job. Definitely not my passion project, but it pays the bills." 

Then, I found BP! The things @Brandon Turner and @David Greene were talking about immediately had my wheels turning, excited, wanting to learn more. I dove in, implementing as many tips as I could; researching markets, getting pre approved, calling HM lenders, networking, talking to more seasoned investors, telling everyone I knew I was investing in real estate, etc. I wake up at 4am before work and spending all of my free time researching and analyzing deals. I've offered on properties in Oregon, Utah, and for the past 3 months, I've been actively trying to break into the Kansas City market with my first rental property investment; loving every hurdle, learning experience and second of my time spent on the process. 

What I tell my friends now when they ask me about my job is, "My job is alright, but I've found a passion for real estate and that's what I want to do."

I'm planning to leave a relatively highi paying job in Bend, OR to move to Boise, ID in the next 2-4 months. I've been looking at all kinds of jobs, many in my industry of civil engineering, and I'm realizing that I'm probably not going to find the same kind of wages that I am currently making in the new city, unfortunately. I tend to believe that maintaining a W-2 job to secure mortgages on the rental properties I plan to acquire is the wisest move at this time, but I'm still open to considering 1099 or self-employed careers. 

My question for all of you is, what would be the best career path to pivot into with a brief understanding of my background and these goals in mind: 

1. Learn more about the world of real estate everyday (preferably in my day-to-day work).

2. Continue personal real estate investing in my free time with goals to acquire 4 residential doors in 2021 and 30 doors by 2028 

3. Generate additional streams of income to supplement a my job in order to fast track my personal real estate investing (i.e. flipping in Idaho)

4. Ultimately break into the commercial RE market and become a NNN wizard like @Matt Onofrio

Here are the careers I am tossing around. I would love any and all input: 

1. Real estate developer

2. Commercial real estate agent

3. Residential real estate agent

4. Flipping/turn key company

5. Wholesale company

6. Become a contractor (I have a background in residential construction)

7. Don't be an idiot, stick to what you know

I appreciate any and all advice!