I guess you didn't set your goals high enough this year since you've already nailed them.Thanks for sharing your inspirational story.  

Fantastic book that has answers and price ranges to all your questions and suggestions on how to go about nailing down the cost range for your specific region.

Option to purchase (you set the date with a price)Bill Gulley nailed it.

Personally I would stick with the building and figure out how to scale that (hint driving nails is not the way but you know that).

@Nicholas Vandervelde hit the nail on the head, sw side and fitchburg are probably the best areas, north side may have some appeal as well.Typically seeing slightly better than the 1% rule for properties.  

It is legal to assign a contract, but it goes deeper than that, can you perform in the contract and then decide a few times in a blue moon to assign a contract or do you contract without the ability to buy simply as a strategy to facilitate sales as a straw man, being a straw man (wholesaler) can get you nailed in this state. :)

Also, some agencies (like KW) have a cap on how much per year is paid.

@Jeff K. nailed it.

I didn't know how to hang a picture on the wall with a hammer and a nail.

It is just icing on the cake that in 2016 the Cavs won the NBA Championship and the Indians went to the World Series and lost in a real nail biter.