I went to school in the DFW area and have a network for friends there who can assist me in things like maintenance / vacancy / etc. if I get rental properties.My short term goal is 1-2 SFH's under my belt by end of this year.

Hi @Gloria Washington we own a solar maintenance company in California and would be happy to answer any questions that you have.

Not only does that reduce energy costs, maintenance is also drastically reduced.

Caution:Contracting for repair, maintenance, remodeling, or improvement by any person licensed under part I of chapter 475 (real estate agent) while acting as the owner’s agent pursuant to that license, where all work requiring a contractor is performed by a contractor who has a current, valid certificate or registration issued under this part to perform such work, and where the aggregate contract for labor, materials, and all other items is less than $5,000; however, this exemption does not apply: (a) If the maintenance, repair, remodeling, or improvement is a part of a larger or major operation, whether undertaken by the same or a different contractor, or in which a division of the operation is made in contracts of amounts less than $5,000 for the purpose of evading this part or otherwise.For the sake of your cousin's license, either make her a part owner (sharing the gross profit as her compensation) or get a GC on the job asap.Just a helpful hint to keep a fellow real estate agent out of jail. 

Presently I work full time at Wal-Mart as a Maintenance Supervisor and wish to be able to earn a self sustaining income through real estate so that I can retire my 9 to 5 job, be my own boss and have time to travel with my wife and enjoy life.                            

Get the deals going first, build some equity and cash flow, set them up with proper insurance and umbrella insurance coverage, establish proper maintenance and property management, then look into structures, entities and strategies for asset protection.Here, a diagram to help you on this path:

He is looking for a handyman or small general contractor to oversee repairs and maintenance when he turns a property over for a new tenant to rent.

He is looking for a handyman or small general contractor to oversee repairs and maintenance when he turns a property over for a new tenant to rent.

Is it crazy for me to purchase this building, even though cash flow checks out, due to the level of maintenance/upkeep/rehab that will be needed?

It's also possible that I may be overestimating the maintenance, vacancy, and misc. costs.