From my travel's I have experienced people less fortunate than I, while I was able to help teach them (not only English, others such as Basketball and few other hobbies) I realized that yes I was able to make change, but it is really small in the Global scheme of things.  

Unfortunately/fortunately we didn't put any money down on this property, so there isn't much equity to pull out at the moment.When you say find a partner, I assume you mean someone with money who is wanting someone to help them invest in real estate?

I tell people you only need about an 8th grade education to make a fortune in real estate so you're in great shape. 

Fortunately, instead it's just a funny story to tell at parties. :)

I have a "day job" that fortunately affords me time and a little capital to pursue this.  

Yes, I know I need to be thankful for how fortunate I am to have an education and be in a position to pursue these things.

Fortunately, my mom is someone I'd trust and she'd tend to the property.

Fortunately the building doesn't need a lot of rehabbing, just needs a new coat of paint and we would replace the water heaters, along with a few other low cost expenses. 

In his book Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill states "Analysis of several hundred people who had accumulated fortunes well beyond the million dollar mark, disclosed the fact that every one of them had the habit of reaching decisions promptly, and of changing these decisions slowly, if, and when they were changed.

Fortunately, the insurance company more than covered the damage and we sold the lot to a builder.