It might weight one location above another if it's already on your list of possibilities for other reasons, but it wouldn't be a determining factor in any way for me.Really, you can do real estate anywhere in some shape or form, so you can move where you want and figure out how to make real estate work there, or move where you want and figure out how to make real estate work for you "long distance".  

Its a great place to continue to build your knowledge base as well as build the team of professionals you'll need to reach your REI goals.I'd advise you to set up keyword alerts (click the little bell at the top right corner next to your profile picture) so that you're aware anytime a forum post mentions a topic/area of interest.Also... attend local events and meet your dream team in person!

My dream is to be financially independent and to be able to eat at any restaurant I want without having to worry about the bill. 

In the end, there are only so much funds to access and invest and maintain a healthy debt to asset ratio.Ideally, given how amazing the SF Area is, you should be holding on to all your Bay Area assets for the longer term but I feel at this point in the cycle, best to cash out and buy your dream home that suits your family needs.

It's been a long road I spent 6 month in th hospital, and I saw many people with injuries similar to mine simply giving up on their dreams or life in general so part of my motivation is showing people in a situation like this that it is not the end of life it can be seen as a new beginning. 

Indeed if my career had started 5 years earlier it would have feen far easier to get into the market as my income and savings really only hit a good place around 2014...This summer we purchased a rental home which will eventually become our primary residence for more than I would have dreamed of a few years ago and in the end we had to ask ourselves two questions.

I have no doubt all your dreams will come true!!

They don't know that I dropped out to pursue this dream of real estate investing. 

My question is: Would it be better for me to get the free degree and pursue the CPA first, or take the real estate accounting position that will more directly relate to my dreams of being a real estate investor?

its been a lifelong dream of mine to be in ann arbor