Evaluate the business, financial, analytical, and “people” skills you bring to the game.  

Since you’ve already gained experience with partnerships and deal structuring, those skills will serve you well in any path you choose.

I'm currently reading The Book on Rental Property Investing and honing my lead analysis skills.

Having experience building a business will help with your real estate investing, as you'll have the communication and organizational skills required to be successful.If you’re looking to invest long distance, I definitely recommend building your core-4 team.

Plumbing is a different story and will vary with the plumbing set up and your skill level.

A skilled experienced person specializing in investment real estate will have no problem answering these, and very possibly already has some FAQ with much of this.

You can find it by looking up Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing in the forums here.

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. 

Hi Art, when buying real estate in a Self Directed IRA it's typically recommended the property is paid in cash and holds no debt.

I personally feel it's more bad than good, but others will have a different opinion and it probably depends on your market and skills as a manager.