I’m 20 years old and live independently, fully supporting myself with a full-time job.

Of course you could do both, depending what kind of capital you have.

The kindness and humor of the responses is comforting in a field where there is very little down time (currently as I get it established) and you all "get it".

The city also seems to have many improvement plans in place to make the area more walkable and safer for citizens to freely navigate the downtown area and support local business.

That's kind of the feeling I got when I saw it.

.: Send your technical problems to support by emailing support@biggerpockets.com

If you have a handshake/wink-wink kind of deal then you should get a Promissory note at least that outlines the terms of the loan and what happens if it default, who the loan is between, and usually in agreements like this the language is broad. 

The culture in our office is very supportive and promotes work/life balance, while still being competitive.

What kind of exclusives in the area does the current tenant have?  

This forum is a great resource, and I’m sure you’ll find plenty of support here!