I want to be able to leave my job working as a federal employee and make real estate investing my full-time job/lifestyle by the end of next year. 

I have an acoustic noise and vibration engineer on my team who specializes in these designs. 

Hey @Kenneth Rayfield being a contractor is definitely going to make real estate investing easier for you to learn.  

It's a great money maker when the market is hot, but when the market slows it is a very dangerous investment.Also, being a general contractor for new construction is a very challenging endeavor (even more so than with a rehab project), and I would recommend having a very sober perspective on the learning curve, even if you have construction experience.

The duplex is a money maker, when rented, so it will stay in my portfolio.

Even if you keep your job, try to find a way to make real estate #1 as that will keep taking care of you whether you show up or not...

You can also play the role of deal maker, where you find deals and put together the pieces: seller, buyer and finance.God Bless You!

You certainly can but you need to be aware of the Dodd-Frank Act relating to seller financing even as the "Maker" of the obligation.Another point is that if you have a RE license, you'll learn about "net listing" issues and dealing for your own investments as a licensee.

This is the mistake cash buyers always make. Real

Does adding increased security measures to my property (i.e. security cams, code locks, etc.) make renting more attractive/profitable?