I was thinking of using cheap labor to cut out strips in the walls to run new wires, possibly making runs to the attic and distribute to the upstairs.The entire neighborhood is the same age so I assume most are unimproved.

You can see what text books they use in your state.Ask Realtors if they have a book you can borrow, drop into a RE brokerage and say hello, tell them of your interest and ask questions, but take care not to impose taking up their time, they do have to work.Your local library may have the state text book, check there.Other good sources are at college book stores, check out their RE section.At your age I'd suggest you do some more studying too.

I am relatively young and one of the few my age to actually have grown up here.

Do your own verifications, charge the tenants whatever they owe according to the lease and don't sign any agreements where the agent is not representing you.

Family, aging, is pulling me back...not the economy.

Here many times flippers will use transactional funding, only to be released upon verification of end buyer's funds, but I'd think the actual transactions as far as HUDs and such would still be independent.

I checked age & ID.

In this case, there were not enough, but did have MLS Comps.Let's take this home for example:#### Petseri Park, San Antonio, TX 78251•Listing Price: $194,900•Age: 2 years old•Bedrooms: 5•Baths: 2•Living Area: 2,766•Lot Size: 8,067•Type: Single Family Residential - two story•Garage:2*** BOA's Estimate Range $177,450 - $212,550•BOA's "This Home Estimate": $195,000After CMA sift:•CMA #1 - 8935 Deer Park, SATX 78251 - A 4br 2ba Living Area: 2,641 sq. ft. home - Sold for: $93K on 08/31/2012 (THIS WAS A FORECLOSURE - BOUGHT @ STEPs - CMA - NO GOOD)•CMA #2 - 2411 Sage Hollow, San Antonio, TX 78251 - A 3br 2ba Living Area: 2,337 sq. ft. home - Sold for: $232K on 08/31/2012 (ONLY COMP THAT CAME CLOSE)*** Zillow's Zestimate® @ $193,856*** Tax Appraisal has it at $201,970 (last few years)*** Trulia info •Average listing price for similar homes is $196,983•Average listing price for all homes in 78251 is $198,440•Averages: within 0.54 miles homes avg. price at $196,983 with an avg. of 4 bedrooms and 2.83 bathrooms @ approx. 2,582 sq. ft equaling $78/sq ft. with an average build of the year 2006.*** MLS CMA last 6 MONTHS @ AVG $208K - Also MLS statistics show price/sq. ft. @ $71 (actually up from 2011 @ $67/sq. ft.) = just over $196K for this Subject Property.In our case this HOUSE was BASED on a NUMBERS RANGE FROM $194K-$208K - AVG. $199K (DID NOT INCLUDE OUR BOA COMP - REMAINED CONSERVATIVE)•LOCATION: EXCELLENT•SCHOOLS: EXCELLENT•CONDITION: EXCELLENT•PRICE: EXCELLENT•AREA AMENITIES: GREATIn my opinion, this house should be marketed at 5%-10% below my estimate which should range from $179k to $189kTHE AVG.

Historically by the time people are at retirement age, their primary residence is paid for and this allows them to live off less income than when they were working and had a mortgage.

I bought my first house in 1995 at age 21 after looking at about 200 houses and too scared to buy one.