@Kaustubh Johri  Fortunately I am able to buy with cash. 

All of my properties there have mechanical gas heaters or a fireplace so all my tenants fortunately had some level of heat 

If you are seeking out asset accumulation and equity appreciation over the long term then there are certainly fortunes to be made.

I also got fortunate that COVID drove up real estate values in the surrounding METRO area's.

Fortunately, I was sitting on a little cash and able to buy and rehab a property recently with all cash. 

I wish I had a little more of that when I started, though I was fortunate to live close to one of the areas you mentioned. 

I agree with @Nathan G. that as a general rule only veteran investors should ever touch into speculative investing, much like options trading there are many making regular fortunes at it and yes it can be an excellent investing strategy BUT, but but but, it is such for the qualified and knowledgeable as for every 1 making a fortune there are at least 10, 20, 100 loosing everything. 

Every business, town, city and state that was banking its fortune on the pandemic lingering around through eternity may have to pare down their hopes!

Fortunately I do have the luxury of my parents paying for it but I still have a question:What college major should I do?

An expensive Renoir painting will cost a fortune in security and insurance premiums each month.However, we have always been taught to believe that these are great assets!