And by the way, I love this web site.

And, "what if told you" that, using leverage you have the potential of acquiring at least 4 times as many income producing properties in Parker, Colorado Springs, wherever, doing really nice things like, reducing your principal balance and tax burden, more tax benefits done right and, never least, appreciation. 

One house was listed at $179k, the price dropped and after I produced a $30k issue I was able to get it for $110k.One house they had a current appraisal (I didn't agree with it) at $160k and I offered $91,500.The only other low offer was one they listed at $115k, I offered in the $40ks and have since bumped up to $60k but they sold it elsewhere (sounds like it went for around $70k).You run a risk of looking like what you fear, but what could it possibly hurt to try?

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. 

A while back my wife introduced me to the BP podcasts and web site. 

You can A spend hours and hours on the web watching hour and a half long videos, be clueless of where to go, get sold a training that costs 5k plus (for information that you can learn on the web for free if you look hard enough, bigger pockets,crinoline, youtube, google, reitipster, ..the list goes on forever.

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.