Investors recognize this hype for what it is and understand that traditional real estate investments only offer high returns with a significant degree of risk.

Unless you're ABSOLUTELY certain about which type of investing you want to do, I would strongly encourage you to spend lots of time getting your investing "Degree".

I'm slowly building an portfolio and augmenting my resume as I will complete my master's degree this year and obtain my state engineering license a few months after that (can practice engineering on my won with that license).

When the bubble burst, I didn't have the clientele at 26 years old to weather the storm, so I fell back onto my degree.

Depending on the size of the town, sometimes building, planning and zoning are combined to various degrees. 

I graduated with a degree in accounting and understand more of the business education while they have only learned from experience, should I also use this as a selling point.

For what it's worth, I have an Associates Degree in Paralegal Studies from Ivy Tech Southbend.

Think of the next 4 years as your undergraduate degree in investing!  

I myself play trumpet and have a degree in music education, which is what I do full-time.

In fact, after completing a masters degree in Real Estate Finance and working for an investment company that buys and operates apartment buildings, I can say it was one of the most informative books I have ever read on the subject matter.