The book The Four Disciplines of Execution by Franklin Covey is a good resource for business management strategy and to help managers create actual work plans.Discipline 1: Focus on The Wildly ImportantExceptional execution starts with narrowing the focus— clearly identifying what must be done, or nothing else you achieve really matters much.Discipline 2: Act on the Lead MeasuresTwenty percent of activities produce eighty percent of results.

Much like college, I suggest young investors to survey as many different investment disciplines as they can, then start to figure out what you want to 'major' in. 

We are disciplined and feel we could use that cash better than letting the buffer sit and doing nothing.

Shop for something you can afford, and if your disciplined and save money every month you could in fact put the wheels in motion for owning your own home.Advise: If you credit is damaged find yourself a good "Partner" and offer them some experience and put some skin in the game... say cash for a down payment  ;) The numbers:2B/1B, 1275 SQFT Huge Detatched 2 car garage.Asking price 100KMarket price 120KWe bid 85K( Someone else bid)Changed our bid to 100KThey countered 102KWe drew a line in the sand and stuck to 100KGot credited 5K+2500K in closing.We settled at 95KPut 10K down and have a 85K loan @ 4.375The house needs 15K in repairs.The location is in the best part of town, has 6 schools in less then 2 miles.

Some people I know struggle with the discipline needed to do that. 

They used the extra cash to pull out a tree from the front yard:) I am exited to put some money to work for myself after years of self discipline of saving.

Wait, no I don't; I'm now an <intelligent> R.E. investor who has self discipline and can delay gratification.  

It won't necessarily start out in the best part of town, but that's a salary to me where you can pay mortgage, make repairs, afford the basic necessities if you are financially disciplined.

However; I've seen agents that started at your age, were very smart, aggressive and disciplined, that did really well.

And with regard to noise,I expect the same noise discipline of tenants with kids that I do of tenants without and they know that upfront.And the greatest thing about kids is they add "roots".