Unfortunately I discovered that working for the government I would never get the level of wealth I needed to feel truly successful.

Wealth is created from appreciation (natural and forced) and for debt pay down.

If you do it right yes you can get very wealthy but there is risk tied to that for a reason. 

As for the money aspect… build wealth is the eventual goal but I feel like (and maybe I’m wrong) that I need to put into something that will develop cash flow first and either that will allow scaling OR eventually (this becomes the longer strat) building equity and then selling.

Sometimes they would disable the electrical panel as well.I distinctly remember one of my colleagues who did it just because the rent check bounced & he retired a very wealthy man with a lot of 'doors'. 

Sometimes coincides with student loan money or scholarships being funded or in several cases just independently wealthy parents that just didn’t want to deal with payments.

Until then, I reckon: WEALTH is king!

When the next crash happens subject-too and foreclosure buyers will become very wealthy.   

Most wealthy people own real estate and businesses.

That's how the wealthy generate more wealth and income/dividends but legally pay less tax than somebody with a health salary.Furthermore, at least compared with real estate investment, your assets are liquid and really have no other liabilities.