If you have $50,000 remaining on your mortgage and paying it off will save you $5,000/year, then that is a 10% return and a significant boost to your monthly cash flow.  

The major problem that we're running into mentally is that Columbus' population is in very slow decline (less than a tenth of a percent per year).

And I still want to keep growing mentally and training my mind set , while I'm starting my endeavors .Wanted to see if anyone had any good/ interesting book suggestions.

The physical and sexual abuses were beyond belief, and no one seemed to care because I was the mentally retarded, spazzy loser with no way to communicate, and most likely no one who would have cared if I could.I was told that my son would never walk or talk-and that is BEFORE he got sick- and he now, at 20 years old, owns his own home free and clear, teaches extremely basic code to Autistic children[ actually learning with them, not the sterotypical IT Autistic],is working on the third book in a fantasy adventure trilogy he is writing, has cleared most of the trails in the location that will one day be THE Autistic retreat center of the world, and he has already been approached about management there.  

While I can't give you advice, I'd like to paint a quick mental picture and let you make sense of it.

In order to get those good deals you have to be prepared (financially) and ready (mentally) to jump on them because if you don't somebody else will.  

I am mentally "stuck" on Boston because it's the only market I've ever known and I am familiar with all the towns, but is it unwise to focus on such an expensive market for a first purchase?

.- Rich Dad Poor Dad (Financial mentality, motivational)- Millionaire Real Estate Investor by Gary Keller (good general book on REI with some how to)- Millionaire Real Estate Agent by Gary Keller (I have not read this but based on how much I like Millionaire Investor I am sure this one is good)- The Book on Flipping Houses written by J Scott and published by BP http://www.123flip.com/ (Great book with a lot of good how to info related to house flipping/rehabbing)- Flip by Gary Keller's company (good book on flipping/rehabbing)- Hold by Gary Keller's company (good book on buy and hold rentals)

I mean, to not know what you should know and have no need to know being what you should know is all an exercise in mental gymnastics.  

@Michele Fischer  I too think that transportation in Washington needs a huge boost and in fact Inslee's plan has $12B dedicated toward projects across the state.