“Home sales growth in the city of Austin is currently being driven by the sales of single-family homes priced $750,000 and higher, particularly within the luxury housing market,” added Guthrie.The median price for single-family homes in the five-county MSA rose 6.5 percent to $287,000 in February 2017.

Her only other negatives that come to mind is she has destroyed several pairs of shoes and books by chewing on them.  

Assuming without evidence you are not married...if I were I in your shoes, I would:1) Figure out where most of your friends are living2) Find a convenient block or subdivision in that area that is mostly owner-occupied homes3) Buy a 3-BR house there with an FHA mortgage and move into it4) Get 2 roommates and collect reasonable rent from them5) Live there for at least two years6) Sell when you get married or have another reason to move (take the tax free gain)

If you were in my shoes, what approach would you take to building your real estate empire?

@Daniel Venhaus in your shoes, I would buy a duplex, tri or 4 plex and house hack.

http://www.har.com/content/newsroomHouston Real Estate Highlights in January Single-family home sales rose 1.7 percent with 4,080 units sold;Total property sales edged up 0.9 percent with 4,997 units sold;Total dollar volume jumped 6.2 percent to $1.3 billion;At $210,000, the single-family home median price rose 4.0 percent to a January high;The single-family home average price climbed 5.3 percent to $275,696, which was also the highest level for a January;Single-family homes months of inventory climbed to a 3.5-months supply;Townhome/condominium sales fell 5.4 percent, with the average price up 1.4 percent to $187,178 and the median price down 1.1 percent to $138,000;Leases of single-family homes rose 5.7 percent with average rent down slightly to $1,718;Leases of townhomes/condominiums increased 6.0 percent with average rent down 4.7 percent to $1,497.

Any insight from individuals that were in my shoes when starting out would be helpful.

Zachary Sit, As Minh said above, I got tired of the "w2 life," waking up early, wearing suits and ties and shiny shoes, and playing diplomatically with all the execs in the sandbox.

If I were in your shoes, I'd suggest asking BP in your area for recommendations, to get everything inspected so you can move forward.  

I have been in Charleston for a little over 2 years now and the market has rose drastically in my area just in those 2 years.