Pay attention to this upfront>>Will you be required to build a fire Station along with buy fire engines if you exceed X residences--required by a municipality or required to have your built structures qualify for market rate insurance polices...because if the insurance on the structures is 10 times normal the valuation of the structure might be very very low.Pay attention to this upfront>>>Can you get the skilled labor (and CONCRETE) out there in a reliable manner.

That is because managing more houses requires additional skills and experience.

Hi Dylan,You could go to W2 work for a year for an industry biggie, such as Greystar or Pinnacle (market rate properties) in Texas, (or where you are at now), for a year as a leasing agent and (boots on the ground) learn how to lease units, as well as get an understanding of how to be a first class property manager Learn things such as, how to handle maintenance, reports, people skills, evictions, cash flows, unit turns, problem residents, borderline qualifiers, flag flyers, parking disputes, physical confrontations, arguments, personal safety, etc....That would chunk out your 1st year requirement as well as put some money in your pocket while doing it.And if the economy nose dives, ride it out on the W2.Just my 2 cents.

Purchase an easier deal, build skills, gain experience, and connect with local investors.

This is usually something like a 1 hour class that most people take and then they have to continually sharpen the skill throughout their career as well. 

Proc. 2008-16 provides a safe harbor for when a second home will qualify as held either for productive use in a trade or business or for investment purposes. 

I have been trying to get a new job in which I can build capital, network, and develop the skills in order to begin my real estate investing endeavors.

It would just be trading off from paying rent to paying it towards a mortgage. 3.

They are kinda market making, but more like leveraged house trading.

These skills will help you to find deals worth going after both for yourself and for clients.