It's a marathon, not a race. 

I'm also curious to learn about any other sort of private and/or alternative financing that may work well with my scenario.While I don't yet know what my 10-, or even 5-year plan is, the idea of pursuing REI as an escape from the "rat race" is very appealing to me.

My goals are to gradually build wealth and cash flow over time while having a normal engineering career. slow and steady wins the race I guess :)I have been considering two common newbie strategies either owner occupying a duplex or to buy a simple single family property such as a townhouse for less but then plan to move within the next year or two and move on to the next property while renting the other.

Putting the horse before the cart I guess I was scheduled t meet with my account next week,  but I will discuss this with her today.This definitely takes the pressure off.

Talk about putting the cart before the horse lolThomas S.  

Worse case, the eviction process finishes and they get kicked out.As far as dealing with your client - this sounds like a "lead a horse to the water but can't make him drink" type situation.

I am a server currently looking to get out of the rat race.

Being stuck in the "rat race" is far worse than a gamble....its a life sentence with no guarantee of Parole.

I'll never understand why people believe that real estate attracts so many philanthropists and humanitarians who are just wanting to help complete strangers escape the rat race.

Example: Don't buy a property directly across the street from a horse racetrack - but not for the obvious reason.