@Duke Butterfield no one can really answer whether or not real estate is a good choice for you - except YOU!

Except that it's not.

Last house I did all the work myself except for drywall and insulation. 1150 square feet, down to the studs, everything new except the roof and I spent $66,000.

We have had nothing but problems here showing us they do not care about anything except to jack up lot rents to make a quick buck.

And BEING exceptional. 

I dont get much out of it as an investor except getting my son in a house vs staying in the rental market.  

All other SDIRA's, 401K's, traditional IRA except Roth IRA and Solo 401K Roth require tax be paid at the retirement age, do correct me if it's not true.Do you know about the Josh Gilmore (josh@sdirawealth) SDIRA wealth firm?

I agree with Patricia, but there are always exceptions to every rule.

With the exception of some small markets in the Southeast, places like Cleveland are the only major metro areas where a regular investor can find cash-flowing assets with a mix of appreciation. 

Except for the super cheap-o $70 from Home Depot, they all work good.