We all have different means and different ends, but I think that is ultimately the important question to ask and design and adapt your plan around answering in a sustainable manner over the long term. 

My second is not the ideal and best choice but doable with the type of area you work with which is self installation.New hot water tanks are about $400-$900 depending on the need for the client plus any pipe adapters for the tank if needed as well as paste or tape for sealing the utility pipes. the package include instruction about installation which was not bad out of a 5 point scale of difficulties i give it a 2.5 or 3.

After hiring a bunch of career military guys, we found they adapted to our culture about a year to a year and 1/2 after they left the service.  

Hi Alex,One tip I will give that you almost never hear:  Keep focused and adapt when obstacles are put in your way.  

They're much more adaptable and it's a more common way of life.

I look at the market now and adapt and find ways to make it work for me now. 

On a more serious note, what makes or breaks REI for people is their ability to adapt and to find creative solutions for difficult problems everyone else has deemed impossible.

@Levi BjorkIn a very broad sense, your cost basis for taxes is the purchase price of the home and the costs for capital improvements to the home that have added value, prolonged its life, or adapted it for a new use (additional square footage, fencing, landscape improvements) outside of normal repairs and maintenance...For your cash on cash calculation, you can't really use the general calculation because you've been living in the home.

I plan on continuing working full time while investing passively because I love what I do.I can't tell you how to get there but make a solid plan and be ready to adapt to changes.

It is a adaption I have to deal with.