Currently, I am taking a gap year between high school and college and want to use this time to learn as much as possible about investing in real estate.

A CPA is a special designation that is difficult to obtain.You are not able to claim yourself to be a CPA unless you pass all the qualifications.A few amount of the qualifications include1) College degree with a certain amount of credits within accounting / Tax / Law / assurance2) Completing 4 exams in accounting / tax / law / assurance3) complete continuing education courses4) Work a certain amount of time under a CPAThe reason that the person you spoke with being unable to say he / she is a CPA is likely because he / she didn't pass the above qualificaitons.

There is a high demand for high paying trade work, often with scholarships and two year degrees.

These "hipsters" are young college grads who will live in areas that are (A) relatively inexpensive, (B) low or trending down in crime, (C) close to attractive civic amenities, and (D) are close enough to jobs. 

Shameless plug:You can hit those numbers all day here in Bryan / College Station TX.

I'm not a he must go to college type of parent.

There's also growing regulation risk for the investor, thanks to the hospitality lobby convincing local Karens and pearl clutching city officials that short term rentals are nothing but drunk college kids and constant crime. 

I'm considering purchasing a multi-family property in Norman, Oklahoma City, primarily because of the nearby colleges and universities that provide rental opportunities.

Was thinking of Stillwater, I like college towns for multi family units.

I would enroll in an architectural college and start drawing my own.