It is the ticket to a decent W2 job, employer retirement plan, HEALTH CARE!!!

With new construction, I can set a very fairly low budget for capital expenditures as well as maintenance.With that said, I will be looking for private money lenders or hard money lenders to aid with the 20-30% I might have to put down for construction loan, but I should have ample equity in the property after it is completed to repay those short-term loans as well as fund the next project across the street.

my input (i have wife and 3 kids) - If I was you - keep your day job for another 5 years, or until you get fired. as long as you get a W-2, healthcare & 401k.

But that being said, when combined with other inflationary policies that increase the cost of goods, and a reduction in the affordability of healthcare will definitely make it more difficult for people to be able to afford mortgages.  

Being without flood insurance and the lack of state & federal aid tells me this is going to be a long journey ahead.

There are many different factors that play into your scenario.Try listening to a few podcasts or read some real estate books on investing and then get an idea what kind of real estate you want to specialize in.Then go searching for a mentor or someone who can directly aid you in that direction.  

We have a fair amount student loans, pay a massive amount to daycare, live in a tiny 1-bedroom apartment, drive a 9 year old civic and work low-level healthcare administrative jobs.

I am a full time investor and agent now...but I was a part time agent for many years while I worked in healthcare full time.  

That's a little bit of where I am at currently in my journey, I hope to achieve my first fix and flip within the next few months with the aid of either a tax lien deed, private lenders or hard money lenders. 

Be careful of the new 3.8% tax on property sales(actually any passive income) for the health care act.