Welcome @Brian Kohlsaat, as newcomer myself to BP located in Northern Colorado and fellow (network) engineer, we both have similar desires to put the important things in our lives first, family.

A mortgage client of mine asked me this:"Please ask your network this question for me as I lean into r.e. investing:1.If you could do it all over again, knowing what you know now, what kind of investment property would you buy for your 1st unit(s)?

I would use your money as the foundation, and try to bring in a few investors from your network with great terms for them (honor the money). 

I am in Clarksville, TN and looking to network with like minded people in my area.

Once im seasoned enough and network with other members then I would be open to hiring GC's but may still keep it in house.

I already work with Advanta IRA but was curious about the locality strictly for the purposes of networking and meetups.

I would keep the Community Bulletin board for community wide announcements -- like the pool hours or the parking lot is being resurfaced on this day.

During the 3 years, I would be attending college, I would be networking as much as possible and absorbing as much information as I can about real estate.

@Justin Taylor - check out the PIG led by @Matt Robinson  Great for networking and doing deals. 

Identify the zoning characteristics, political environment, and real estate market demand parameters for each parcel.With the wide variety of sites you delineate, there is a wide range of different development characteristics to research, design, entitle, and sell or build for each project.