With skills like yours you should get connected to a REIA in your area and find someone to work with.  

From a numbers perspective it works but once we start adding what I estimate to be crunching 80k in repairs, coupled with a soft market for high-end homes especially next to heavy industry...I decided on a soft pass. 

What is your secret sauce or what skills do you have in your toolbox that help you acquire these properties at discounts? 

Early investing builds equity, generates income, and teaches property management skills, but may strain finances.

This may be a soft pull on your credit, but it's worth it (in my opinion) to determine that question. 

I have a very diverse skill set - most importantly, good professional communication, process development, an financial literacy.

Every market is different, skills are different, location matters, proper due diligence matters and your individual lifestyle even matters.There are millionaires who live very humble lives and you would never know they were wealthy. 

and see what skills you might have to add some value as a side hustle.Things started to happen organically as I got more involved in the Chicago real estate market, and I am confident they will for you, too!

But my background and experience is in Business Development, and Marketing Strategy in close integration with sales, so I figure I at least have some transferable skills that'll allow me to make the most out of property as an asset class.

To date, I have created two strategic partnerships with other veteran organizations to match veterans with parking industry jobs of varying skill levels