Also, If you pay off your mortgage early and truly own your house the ability to leverage decreases and you forfeit the ability to invest that money in other vehicles that would ideally bring in better returns than the money saved through paying down your home.

I just don't see much risk with the situation I mentioned above, unless of course I am completely without a job and wasting away my saving. 

I'm in the game and taking action....thanks to BiggerPockets for the great resources and connections like @Bill Hampton, who helped me to set up my investment LLC.I look forward to quickly renting this unit and saving up for a 3rd home to add to my rental portfolio.

I am pretty sure I take all the deductions I'm due and I've vehicles such as as solo 401K, self-directed IRA, Roth, etc. but I think I might be missing out on larger-picture strategies for investing and tax savings.

I am currently living below my means, and have almost 9k in savings, but I am trying to think of clever ways to expand my means.

So I'll be marketing as a FSBO on free outlets such as Craisglist and Zillow to save and gain a larger profit.Tell me if I have this right: After I get a buyer, I have the new buyer sign an "assignment of agreement to sell real estate" which state that the new buyer will give the seller the amount that I agreed to pay then and the remainder (listing price - my buying price from seller) would come to me.

Thanks  please check with union savings bank.. my primary had a $500 closing cost with them.. they were .25% higher than the cheapest..

@Vincent BuggsHave you ever considered investing your retirement funds directly in real estate--meaning that your retirement account would own the property?

I'm thinking worst case scenario, I don't rent it out to anyone, my holding costs go down to around $1200-$1300 if I don't save for any repairs/cap ex and utilties much lower, and then each tenant I put in would just make it much cheaper for me to live for free! 

However, I do know that I want to get into properties as soon as possible perhaps when I graduate so my plans right now is to save, network, find a mentor and develop my understanding of the game.