In the future, have a process for security deposit return that complies with your local laws and follow it.

There are about 2,000 members in the local REIA which charges $20 a month to be in, and I know of several other investment groups that are over the top charging upwards of $20,000 to join, but who is "Actually buying"?

Well if you really want to do it right, you should speak to a local PM or lawyer who has done it before.

@Ian Radcliffe 1. yes, you can do land flipping while working a 9-5 just like you can become a local real estate developer in your community while working a 9-5. 2. the less time you have the more strategic partners you'll need on your team to execute 3. there are a lot of courses out there and I'd recommend talking with a land flipper and/or their team prior to buying the course just to make sure expectations are aligned There are quite a lot of other nuances around it but if you're curious and you do some research you can definitely make it happen. 

@Doreen LinderHappy to connect and discuss the local rental restrictions for STR's on the Gulf Coast.

We welcome any suggestions or insights you may have.Additionally, if anyone has information on the approximate cost of building a duplex and triplex in California, we would greatly appreciate your input.To provide context, neighboring properties in the area we bought offer insights into the local housing market.

Landlording from a distance should be done with local property management.

Even if the question was asked by someone elsewhere, many responses are check your local laws which should direct the person to the right source of information.

I've seen some posts both here on BP, in local FB groups, and heard comments in person corroborate this.

To move forward, save aggressively, network with local real estate investment groups, educate yourself on real estate investing, get pre-approved for a mortgage, and continue researching Dallas and Tyler markets.