Credit cards can be a great tool for building credit and reaping the rewards, but they require absolute discipline and strict self-imposed guidelines to be genuinely beneficial.Kinda rambled there for a bit.

It becomes much easier, and much less risky as it grows, and there's nothing wrong with having the first 25-50k accumulate with disciplined saving.

The more disciplined you are now in figuring this out and taking action the more wealthy you will become.

I have no debt and am patient and disciplined with my assets...So, I'm open to ideas and connections about how to mix and match real estate buying/investing in those areas with a possible career switch into some kind of real estate W2 income. 

It means, if you're systematic and disciplined, you will have to buy very selectively in a market like this. 

I’m a conservative investor and I’m trying hard to be disciplined during this hot sellers’ market.

You might have a bunch of disciplined investors trying to make offers with reasonable spreads, but realistically all it takes is one frustrated, over-zealous investor to bid over ask to take a good deal off the market.

Mom didn’t discipline at all, had the surrounding tenants up all hours of the night, and it was a mess!

The questions you're attempting to address cross many financial disciplines.

Stay disciplined, stay strong my friend!