Sorry this is months late however I'm jumping back on track now after months of learning ,working to pay my bills & exhausted burnt out Life Challenges! 

It sometimes does spill off some great short term profits but is really something to set you up for life if you give it the next decade or so. 

Real estate is supposed to make life better.

USDA (not all towns), VA (Veterans only - with a DD214), NACA (has some hurdles to jump through.Alternatively, we could negotiate an option, which lets you tie the property up while you organize your finances.There's some due diligence to go through - price, condition and location.That said, you might be able to find the right home faster than you think. 

Additionally I like to evaluate the financial health, capital reserves, and property condition of the association to try to understand whether a large assessment is looming.  

Now according to the FEMA FIRM, this ditch and the land adjacent (the 2 houses described above) are in the 100-year floodplain (which i think is ridiculous bc we've had several floods exceeding the 100-year in my life and it has never over-topped...there are steep embankments on either side that help with flood conveyance).So, the neighbor is looking to sell off market and has given me the chance to offer. 

Probably the best advice I can take is relax you’re doing ok enjoy life.

As a contractor knowing my worth , and setting My prices has allowed me a very comfortable life style Credit , I have so much credit at suppliers its scary .

My step-sister who I am very close with started getting into real estate in the past year or so and after some talks with her about RE and life in general she put me onto Bigger Pockets. 

Ya know I was raised there In Cupertino and Palo Alto.. the land of 50 to 60 years ranch houses on little 5 to 7k sq ft lots selling for 2 to 4 million in todays. market.but back in 1979 is when homes got to 100k in Cupertino we all thought ( I was a 23 YO broker at that time) there is NO way they could go higher.. and when I bought my second home in my life in Palo Alto for 185k in 1984  a 3 and 1 900 sq ft home.. but nice landscaping lot was 50X 100  and then sold It in 91 for just under 500k..