Put a lot of sweat equity into property and had to move away on orders.

If you can use Shark Bites or do basic copper pipe sweating, you can also dig into the wet wall easily, rip out the Moen valve, spout, and head, and hang a shower tower in that bathroom.

I gained about 50% of the property's value in sweat equity right off the bat.

The trick would be finding a property that you can add a significant amount of sweat equity to, and buying it for less than market value. 

The experienced folks, have done the heavy lifting, squeezing, sweat equity for a few bucks and hour and have gotten to a place where they just don't want/have to do that anymore.  

There can be a lot of value in sweat equity as well if you are will to live in some dust.

Of course, in return I would want them to manage it under my mentorship, and put sweat equity into it and make my life easy.

STEM + Accounting/Finance are the easy route to having an easy, comfortable upper-middle class life without breaking too much of a sweat.

First complete remodel in the apartment (Ton of sweat equity, 70% labor completed by myself over 5 months, very handy person)Started a small lawn-mowing business at 14, ran it until 24 after college, began internships-corporate entry.

@Cecilia Constantine in my opinion this is the time to put in some serious sweat equity.