Combined with my own capital, a recipient of an SBA loan, other private funds, I was able to build out a full-service restaurant that I operated for 10 years.

Find a partner, seller financing, FHA loan, hard money, a combination of them, etc.

If you are unaware of what that is, it is essentially creating a plan where you invest a specific amount of money on a regular basis (month, quarter, whatever) in a stock, index fund, or combination of your choosing. 

You have to find out what you want to do, and what your market offers but always keep in mind you want to leverage whatever rare and valuable skill you have as Ben explained.

The combination of allocating what you were losing by renting and then moving in one side makes the opportunity becomes more desirable and profitable compared to a pure investor.  

Technically it is possible for the group to use a 1031, but it is rare. 

I get a smile on my face every time I see someone budgeting 10% for a property manager, because it happens so rarely. 

You will be pulled in many directions by salespeople but rarely listen to them or the Internet. 

I do not believe our combined incomes, without rental income, would be enough to justify the size of two mortgages combined2.

Bank loan financed $70,400 @ 6.75 for 12 years, $714 payment (both houses combined).