If you're certain that real estate is the path you want to take, my advice is to get licensed as an agent while you're still in college and go work for a top producing agent or real estate investor as a paid licensed assistant.

I also compose, produce, and play piano. 

If you want to hear all the advantages of San Diego RE you can PM me but suffice to say it has historically produced very good returns and this is verifiable fact (anyone can verify this).However, you do not know whether you plan to stay in San Diego. 

I'm seeing it as very unlikely that a property with high property taxes could produce good cash flow thus why i am looking out of state. 

I remember 30 years ago that ALL of our electricity was supposed to be produced by solar and everyone would work a 4 day work week by this point in time.

What choices have you made that didn't produce desired outcomes and became learning experiences?

It would also be simple to produce a buyers list coming from our sales department.

Are you open to making payments on this vacant dirt (which can be difficult since it's presumably not producing any income, etc.).  

The most beneficial education I received was teaming up with a seasoned top producer at my office.

More importantly, he owns a triplex which is now valued upwards 650k, which I want to 1031 exchange for something bigger that produces more cash flow.