I was born and raised in Corvallis, OR and just moved to the Portland area a few months ago after graduating from Oregon State with a degree in Construction Engineering Management.

You should strongly consider going to college, but study something that interests you and will benefit your RE endeavors - finance, accounting, marketing, management, architecture, project management, any of the engineering fields, construction technology, construction management and yes, you can find some real estate degrees out there. 

I am an engineer by profession but have become very intrigued by the potential benefits and challenge of REI. 

New engineered hardwood/carpet/vinyl throughout the house, as well as a fresh coat of paint on the inside and outside.

For me I prefer to focus on one aspect, systematize it and then outsource it but im not a nuclear engineer either lol.

For 3/4" #1 solid oak, expect to pay about $2-3 per square foot for refinishing in that area (in places where the floor isn't buckled) and expect $6-8 per square foot for replacing any buckled pieces/sections.Now compare that to the cost of tearing out and installing engineered wood (I assume that's what they're talking about), and you'll have an idea of which is the better way to go. 

Is it possible to get a certification from an engineer that the ground is stable, or at least some sort of report on the stability of the ground?

In Industrial Engineering.

I moved to Kansas City in December of 2010 after finishing college to begin a career in Engineering Technology. 

Building permit rules vary significantly between locations, so you should probably set up an appointment to discuss this with your local building department.In my area (NJ), unless an owner occupies the property as their primary residence, they may not do any plumbing or electrical work that requires a permit, and any structural changes will need to be drawn by an architect or engineer.