Welcome to Real Estate - My Beginnings

Surprise, surprise I read Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and am now on my path to Real Estate Investment.  I finished that book on my way home from Greenville, SC while on the plane.  My wife and I have been considering leaving Minnesota for greener, warmer pastures.  There were a few states we had in mind but had a friend who had visited Greenville a couple of time and suggested it.  With his recommendation I went to the internet and started looking, I had never heard of it but I liked what I saw.  

We went to Charleston for five days then drove to Greenville and spent another five days there.  While in Greenville we found a tour company named Make Greenville Yours.  We took a tour called the 'Get Moving Tour' for $50 a person, it was well worth the time and money.  Mike, the founder and tour guide, is a retired pastor (I believe) who excels in building and maintaining relationships.  He drove us through Greenville, Traveler's Rest, Mauldin, Simpsonville, Greer, and Taylors.  He showed off each town's identity and what they had to offer. We fell in love with the greater Greenville area and are starting to plan the move.

At this time I am a Software Engineer and my Wife is a Registered Nurse working on her BSN.  We own a house just south of Minneapolis, I bought it as a 3 bed 1 bath and added a second bath.  For three years I had two renters help pay down the mortgage and was able to get rid of my PMI in a year.  I'm in a good position, not because I lucked out, but I was willing to do work and make a few sacrifices.  I've owned my house for 5 years and currently comps are of similar houses are going for 90-100k above the principal balance of my mortgage.  I still have a home improvement loan that I'm currently paying down.  After paying that off and paying fees for selling my home, I anticipate 70-80k to start my real estate investment journey.

My goals prior to move include: determining which niche to focus on, meet someone on Bigger Pockets that may provide some mentorship before and after my move, and learn, learn, learn, learn.