However, I think some upcoming life changes may be the right opportunity for me to dip my toes in the water in real estate investing.I live in Pflugerville, TX (25 minutes from downtown Austin) and will soon be moving to Portland, OR, for my dream job.

Have a steady 9-5 job but looking to branch into real estate investing as well. 

.- If you hold a rental until death, you can pass it on with a stepped-up cost basis, limiting captial gains if then sold (limited by inheritance tax limitations).Too many newbies on this site trying to replace their day job income via "passive" real estate investing w/o digging deep enough to understand how it really works.

The macroeconomics are on fire here - population growth, job growth, and companies moving and developing here.

This is not as passive as other investing but it will help launch your portfolio so that you can continue to invest without needing to work additional jobs.

They have allowed me to quit my job as an Engineer. 

That said, I don't think you can ask for reimbursement unless you would have done the job yourself or they clearly overcharged for the job.Hi Locke!

I have done BRRRRs in Milwaukee for a decade+ and if I am not on the job 2-3 times a week, things go sub-optimal.

They are up and running again, but this pushed jobs back. 

Just to beat a dead horse, we could see a recession in the future where you and/or your spouse lose your jobs.