I have pulled a permit for removing a fireplace, but probably would not have but I had a significant remodel going with permits and did not want hassle of him making an issue of removing the fireplace (the inspection for fireplace removal consisted of only verifying gas cap was in visible location, he did not even spray it).

i say that not to discourage you, but so that you have a realistic picture of what to expect.as @Travis Timmons alluded to, you need to be in a strong financial position to even think about starting to invest. 

In exchange, he gave her a small rent discount and even helped her relocate some of the larger items.

Your construction skills can give you a significant advantage, allowing you to save on rehab costs or even flip properties for capital.

Things just require more ongoing expenses percentage wise out of state because you have to pay people to do everything for you and you will have a longer time building relationships with vendors even when getting decent referrals. 

BiggerPockets also has a calculator to analyze deals, and I highly recommend you start this as soon as possible, even if you are not ready to buy.

Even though we want a higher amount write off for depreciation but I get it.

There are definitely areas where you could repeat a similar strategy but with even better cash flow.If you’re ever looking at growing your portfolio elsewhere, I come across off-market deals that could align with what you’re looking for.

I recommend you figure out what you want to do, then actually do it to see if you enjoy it, have some skills, etc.

Even still, it could be said that I've still lost money due to my time on the tools instead of prospecting as a real estate agent (the cost of lost opportunity).If you can truly do 80%-90% of the work yourself (at acceptable quality levels) and you aren't sacrificing your time where you can get better returns for your efforts, then yes, it can work even up here in Canada.