Two, you'll have a much easier time obtaining a mortgage product if you have a track record of W2 income.In the meantime, continue implementing the strategies you mentioned: save religiously, build your credit, pay any existing debt owed, etc.

I’ve realized I need additional help—someone local, like an assistant.Here’s my idea: I was thinking of purchasing a small piece of property and putting something modest on it, like a single-wide home or a similar small structure.

In addition to interest and repairs, you can deduct off a 27 year depreciation on the home. 

An umbrella policy for additional liability. 

Additionally, the price point is still cheap enough to find the 1% rule and positive cash flow and there's amazing appreciation potential.

As I studied earlier, the first thing you should do is marketing, then get a call and do a property analysis to understand if it's profitable for you, then meet with the seller and sign all the necessary papers, then if there is a debt in the bank we do a reinstatement quote, then do a title search to check if there are any hidden debts, if everything is fine we look for an investor or flipper and sign an assignment of contract with him and wait for closing to get our money.

Additionally, be sure to have an accurate ledger and your signed lease agreement.

I sent you a message with an additional one.  

I heard that you would need to get neighborhood approval in addition to the city approval... 

So you have some great resources right off the bat, my additional Referrals would be too many :)