You will have opportunity in REI to employ multiple strategies buy if you focus on one for now it wont be as intimidating.

A rapidly growing and diversified employer market, fast growing college institutions and relatively low cost of living is drawing a number of individuals from around the country and around the world.

In fact, I highly recommend investing in your own business while employed.Think of your current employer as your investor.

Or a major employer pulls out of town and his tenant pool is decimated.

Kevin Doyle I employ a similar strategy in Missouri and we can enter the property nearly immediately after sale however next door in Kansas there is up to a one year period for the owner reinstate the mortgage.

It was hectic, but I learned a tremendous amount about what goes in to rehabbing a home.Fast forward 6 years, we moved to Rio Rancho, NM (near Albuquerque), my wife and I were both employed in great W2 jobs and we had saved up some extra money.

Chattanooga does have a stable economy with great employers.

Fort Campbell is based there and is the main employer (I am former military so I understand and know that).  

@Tony Stephenson I would expect you have a noncompete or nonsolicitation of clients agreement with your employer.

Our initial application gets their current residence, how long they've been there, landlord contact info, employer, salary, how long they've been employed there, family size/status, pets, cars (years and type), whether they've ever filed for bankruptcy, had a felony conviction, owe any outstanding balances, and other similar information.