I don't have all the answers to your situation, I will share a little of my experience - When I was younger – in my 20’s in the 60's, I never had too many jobs - the longest one I had was with a correspondence school for 7 years - that sales training was the key that prepared me to be able to negotiate real estate transactions.During that 7 years I started taking seminars, buying cassette tapes (remember them?)

The high school was nearby, desirable and many move-ins were related to this fact. 

I just graduated Cal Berkeley with a degree in Political Econ. focusing on international business trade and labor.

I am interested in real estate because my parents have some experience with rental properties and I am hoping to avoid the 9-5 job when I graduate (or at least avoid working for someone else for too long).

However, note that public schools are back in session starting today.

  Being a local to Hurricane and now St George and working in Springdale all through high school and college I know the area very very well.

There are two different schools of thought on this.

I graduated in May and have been living in Iowa for the summer but have been trying to get started doing deals in Omaha.

I closed escrow on my first property 2 weeks after graduating from college.

We are particularly interested in areas allowing a great lifestyle (good food, spending heaps of time outside, close to the beach, quick and easy access to great cities, etc) such as California, South West of France, Barcelona, etc...We currently own a 2 bedroom apartment (paid cash) close to the beach and the main English schools in Malta.