Get your real estate license and go to work fir a top producing agent as a licensed assistant so you can kearn the ropes and get paid while you learn.

I have already asked my family to make sacrifices in the budget arena, which is healthy, but I will never put my family into a positin where they may be in danger, regardless of the money to be made.

With such low rent to value ratios it is hard to get the right cash flow to produce the rates of return necessary.

IRA or 401k, you'll be taxed at ordinary income rates, whereas the investments that generated the gains may be taxable at 15% cap gains rate had they not been invested inside the plan.Most cash-flow producing investment real estate already has great tax advantages, so other than not being able to reduce your taxable income via a contribution, you may be better off just investing outside the plan in RE, and doing 1031 exchanges to the extent you're able to do so.

or are you looking for help with becoming a top producing agent?   

I'm not saying that real estate is easy so don't misquote me there, but relative to almost any other business you can purchase that has a reasonable chance at producing revenue, the property manager/house-hacker has to be up there.Your tenants are right next door - you know if they aren't treating the property well.  

I'll begin by first establishing that my fiance and I have a very healthy relationship.

Let's say I am interested in value plays on income producing assets for the long-term buy and hold.

Building healthy working relationships where everyone will win, is what I strive for everyday!

Or become aggressive, build a Real Estate Business that produces massive income and runs on it's own.