If you are using RE investing to try to avoid going to school, your intentions are not in the correct place.

Im old school...my cpa is in the building next door and I like doing business face to face.

So an identical neighborhood (income, crime, school quality, etc.) can cost you as much as a $100k less on the South side simply because your neighbors are brown or black as opposed to white.this right here is the gem advice.  

Investors should keep an eye on its growing infrastructure and amenities.Huntersville: A family-friendly suburb with excellent schools and amenities, Huntersville is a solid choice for long-term appreciation.Davidson: A charming college town, Davidson offers steady appreciation and attracts higher-income tenants.Belmont: This small town near Charlotte offers more appreciation potential than cash flow, driven by its desirability and quaint atmosphere.Neighborhoods Offering Both Cash Flow & AppreciationConcord: A tricky yet rewarding market, Concord can provide both cash flow and appreciation.

- Should I go back to school and obtain an Associates degree in Real Estate? 

As it relates to lease end dates I've seen two things work here. 1) You can stagger end dates as mentioned above or 2) you can optimize for summer - this works better for us in areas where you see students or families with school age children moving to align with the summmer months.Separately, this is a great argument against month-to-month leases.  

I liked the tenant, school is starting back etc, I told them they could pay first month and security deposit and I would let them have the rest of August for free.

Why not joint venture with someone who has money, fix & flip itWhy not rent it out for at least the monthly carrying costs.Why not sell it on a lease option, get 10% cash up front to fund school? 

Typically, higher income areas have lower crime, more amenities, better schools.  

However, prices on $1M homes haven't really appreciated all that much and we are looking to move to something much smaller near where our kids go to school.