Some things can be taught but building off of your God given talent always gives you an advantage.

With all the new businesses coming into downtown Detroit, the demographics is changing very rapidly - Exodus of older-generation auto industry workers are replaced by a steady inflow of college-educated young talent into Downtown Detroit for jobs created for the new economy...Same thing started in Pittsburgh about 5-10 years ago: https://www.citylab.com/equity/2015/08/brain-gain-in-the-rustbelt/402922/2) coastal cities are getting so expensive that most millennials and Gen Z cannot afford to live in San Francisco/Seattle/NYC anymore.

I look forward to learning and hopefully having a chance to work with the many knowledgeable and talented people on the site

Nice work on the rehab so far; I hope your 'little' construction background includes some talented help if you feel the need.  

@Steven Torrez, Comparing your 401k returns with real estate returns may be like comparing apples to oranges. 401k returns are very passive with little input from you.Real estate returns can be alot better or worse depending on your strategy,talent,leverage, and level of involvement.REI can also be as active or passive as you want.As for your question about borrowing from it to get started and avoiding PMI costs, that makes total sense to me.Last year I converted my 401K to a self directed Solo 401K, and it has worked out very well.

learning to deal with contractors is a talent all by itself.

I have begun to market some of my talents, so I can aggressively attack the debt.

Lots of talent here.

Which cost the agent nothing and seller may or may not have the money to hire someone or talent to do it themselves.

However, I could invest my time and talents and offset being paid for the larger reward.