My father built houses and sold them, sometimes up to three at a time, while working a job as a civil engineer when I was growing up.  

You could always go private money if you -really- want to go there, but if you are "new to the game", then I'd heavily advise you against brand new construction without either a construction or engineering background or if you are heavily banked.At 80-100k equity, you could turn that into 135-170k of buying power with bank financing at around 60% LTV (I'd be conservative if this was your first time going at it to make sure you will cashflow and establish that to keep working with your banks).

My mom actually works for chobani and says there are engineers on three month wait lists for rentals.

hello BP familyMy name is Stefan Chirila and moved in California from Romania in 2011. happy to be here and finally taking  my first action and come on board.I am 32 years old, did sport at the highest level all my life, I am married and Civil Engineer, when I moved in US I started working as a labor for a small construction company(didn't have rights, and not shame about that), throughout time I learned the language and got my rights and equivalent my degrees and eventually started to work in construction management as an assistant Superintendent for a very big GC, everything is good happy with my job with my growth in US in a very short time, but always had in me the filling that I can do more then just working hard and make money for someone else, always dream about financial freedom, never actually took actions in that direction. 

Run the numbers and see if it makes sense, if it doesn't, reverse engineer the numbers and see what purchase price does make sense and maybe make an offer.

-buy cabinet doors bumpers. gift to neighboor and tenant-alternative option: buy a 1/2 box of donuts. talk with building engineer (@John Anderson: the shortest path between point A and B is a straight line. going to HOA (as you know already) is the 1,000 miles path)

I'm a network engineer by day at a small community bank in Polk County and a land lord by night.

i am an experience investor looking for deals

A little about my 22 year old self: I graduate May 2017 from North Carolina State University in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Entrepreneurial Studies.

We're both chemical engineers and have busy but well paying jobs.