@Anthony Colonnetta one thing you could do to at least get your feet wet while you finish college (which I highly recommend you do, always have a backup plan and education is an excellent Plan B or C), is to invest those $15,000 with a local partner and you can start growing that money faster than any other investment vehicle. You could even ask that investor to show you how he/she does his/her business and how your money is helping finance a deal. Since you don't have much time available right now you could make sporadic visits to Houston and check out the project progress some weekends.
For example, we use a lot of Private Money from all kinds of investors. Most of them just want their returns and could care less for how we run our business as long as we pay them their interest money every month. Others (mostly the retired ones) call us very now and then and ask to come see the house while the work is going on and sometimes they spend the entire day driving to Home Depot with us and delivering materials and such. You could be someone in between, not necessarily disconnected but due to your student status only available to go see the project during the weekends or spring break and other free time from school.
I hope this gives you ideas on what to do with your hard earned money while you focus on that bachelors degree.
Good luck,
Dennis Rodriguez
