Every $3k is a week or 2 of freedom you are giving up. 

We are looking to use our success have more freedom in our lives now instead of in 35 years at the traditional 'retirement age'.  

Again, I understand that this first deal is really more of a gateway than an independent vehicle to financial freedom in and of itself.I find myself wondering things like: should I just keep researching markets until I find a place with good metrics that I might like to live in a year or two and begin investing there, long distance?

The Book on Flipping Houses" - J Scott (Bigger Pockets)"The Long Walk to Freedom" - Autobiography of Nelson MandelaI would recommend both highly!!

Once I get that flywheel up to speed, I'll have reached my main financial goal, which means stability and more freedom for myself and my family.  

@Jason Clemens if you have time freedom and can engage the occasional issue that pops up, you are willing to learn an active business to juice your returns and learn remote self management, then yes I encourage you to pursue STRs.

You've definitely come to the right place - real estate investing is the tried and true method to building a true financial freedom nest egg!

If I could pass along a word of advice to myself a few years ago in my engineering career it would be this: you should always be able to make a comfortable living as an engineer but real estate is your avenue to finacial freedom (even if you have to bust your *** for a few years).

If you want more autonomy, freedom to get more creative, and don't so much need the extra training, events, and culture/community of a large organization, any lesser-know brokerage no matter how small should do, in fact I sometimes wonder how things may have turned out had I signed on with a small broker who was "investor aware" shall we say, and could give more specific guidance on how to pursue business in my case where I only know a handful of people in Florida and so the traditional "just call people you know" advice is not going to cut it.Another thing to be aware of. 

Hi out there-I am considering signing up for Freedom Mentor apprentice course, is there anyone out here that has worked with Phil Pustejovsky?