Also - here's a couple articles you might enjoy:The 21 Best Real Estate Investing Books EverHow to Start Investing In Real Estate at a Young AgeOh - and if you haven't yet- be sure to setup some "Keyword Alerts."

You did not mention where the engineering school was located, but if its located in the United States, investigate an FHA 3.5% down payment mortgage for 30 years with an interest rate of 4% max, which would require owner occupancy at least a year (you'll be there two years). 

Key word alerts are great tools.I'm a few hours south of you, but hope to move back to Seattle in the future.  

http://www.biggerpockets.com/meetAlso, be sure to set up “keyword alerts” to notify the topics that interest youWishing you the best!

Instead of actually searching CL there are apps you can use to be alerted for key words just like on biggerpockets.

You may want to set up some “keyword alerts” to notify the topics that interest you the most.Wishing you the best!

Make sure to put in your keywords, and also Jeff Greenberg and Jon Huber are two BP members who put together monthly LA meetups.

http://www.biggerpockets.com/meetAlso, be sure to set up “keyword alerts” to notify the topics that interest you. 

http://www.biggerpockets.com/meetAlso, be sure to set up “keyword alerts” to notify the topics that interest you. 

You'll get a wealth of REI knowledge and learn how to take full advantage of Bigger Pockets (including how to connect with other South Florida investors).Listen to the podcasts , get active on the forums & set up key word alerts to be notified when people are discussing topics you're interested in.I'm an active investor & agent up in Orlando, feel free to reach out anytime.