I know you don't want to deal with tenants and their problems, so why not either:A - Buy a NNN property where you don't have those problems, but still have cash flow,...orB - Take your $500k, and partner up with another investor where they deal with the tenants.

Anyone know any good books on acquisitions when it comes to real estate?

We were tired of renting and didn't know what we were doing at the time.

Everyone always wants to know "How is the market?".

Would be curious to know what the exact details of this lawsuit are?

Still, you may not have to submit your tax returns. more info would be needed to know for sure, reach out to a seasoned loan officer for pre-approval and see if your situation would allow for this. 

I am interested in meeting mortgage brokers, investors, and real-estate agents in the Austin area, as well as anyone who can connect my abilities as an engineer to a tech company in the area.I love learning new things, and not knowing how to do a thing has never stopped me from doing it.

I know I could put furniture on 0% interest credit cards, but I would need 2+ years to pay it off and I don't want to have to jump through hoops to cycle a balance onto new cards. 

Use a buyer's agent that knows the market, contracts, negotiations, etc.If you really want to learn about investing, get a job in property management. 

You also need to know if you will need to underpin the foundation as that can add up.