Looking back, I honestly believed I had more than I deserved.I eventually got into real estate, more out of desperation than anything. 

Eventually got a locksmith out around 2am after one ghosted me.

Wife and I were thinking about building to eventually rent instead of just selling the property outright.

G'Day Zach,There will always be great deals in any market as long as you look/work hard enough.For example, we buy various lists like evictions, probate and tax delinquent just to name a few.We offer low, negotiate hard, close with cash and close quickly.This enables us to buy 1 out of let's say 100 for 30 cents on the dollar.As the saying goes "The more mud you throw on the wall, eventually some will stick"Lot's of cold calls and chasing but it's my full time gig and that's what I do 🤷‍♂️I have always believed that "Cash is King" and you don't have it.Wait till you do.Just my 2 cents.As you will see mentioned many times in the forum, Ohio has great cashflow.So does, Michigan and Indiana IMO.You will probably find the most cashflow in these markets and if you look even further within these markets you can snag great deals in tertiary cities of those states.Wishing you much success

Eventually you'll want one if you keep buying more rentals.

Is it worth taking the time to get my Real Estate license, getting affiliated with a brokerage, and live that career out enough to eventually start investing?

Not sure how close you are in terms of proximity to the university but my Dad bought property near a university for over 30 years and eventually a developer came in and bought everyone out and added luxury student housing and shopping with a huge payday for all the owners who had bought many years before.

Subject to the existing mortgage of 170k @4% originated on 1/1/2022 plus catching up 20k of arrears/escrow/legal fees and then eventually Airbnb Furniture and holding costs of another 15k from private money.

We do not NEED to do the refi but the plan is to eventually do it and remove the other person from the loan.

But eventually you'll get there.