Should I focus on teaching him the basics of personal finance, like saving and budgeting, or is there a way to introduce him to more advanced concepts like market analysis? 

Hey Chris, If your agent is only using RCM, they might not be familiar with platforms like Costar or LoopNet (which honestly should not be the case), or they simply may not have the budget to cover the upfront listing fees, which can get pricey.I’d circle back with them, address the plausible elephant in the room, and try to figure out a game plan to get your property on these other platforms.

Even without a budget for repairs/etc - let's just define "cashflow" as income left over after PITI & utilities for a moment - Mac Groveland and Highland Park are going to be tough.

Start small with a property within your budget and skill set, using HELOC for funding.

You should budget around 2-5% of the purchase price for closing costs.

I think you would need to ultimately know what your goals are and honestly what your budget is.

Then i decided to move to semi truck driving and now i'm making 1k a week take home.

With your budget, you could get multiple deals here in Columbus, but I recommend starting with one, getting it stabilized, then moving forward from there.

Ask local materials distributors which contractors pay their billing on time, and who order materials consistently.Go to some local REI meetups and ask for referrals.Look at local jobsite and take note of truck signage.Of course verify their licensing, here's a link https://lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/contractors/hiring-a-co...

Who provided you with the reno budget and do you know if its a fair price?