I have a few credit cards that have a large balance. 

Assuming a 3% annual growth rate in real estate value (again, not withstanding NOI gains due to management quality) you'll have a loan balance of $738,191 after 5 years and an asset value of $1,161,616.

@Eric WallaceAround here when you see purchases close to one another with a significant drop in price you are typically looking at an REO or tax lien: the first price is the bank/municipality foreclosure at the balance of the outstanding mortgage or tax lien; the second is often the property being resold off by the lender or at auction.   

You probably don't know how to price a rehab if you're  a realtor unless you have construction experienceExisting financing is important as far as what the balances are, what the payment is PITI and what kind loan it is, conventional, government-backed FHA, etc.A joint venture with the money partner might be an idea or a hard money lender might be an ideaIf it's a minor rehab I do joint ventures with the seller directly, where I'll give them a note for their equity, a vacant house, then I buy it  subject to the existing financing, and give them a note of their equity.At the time I buy it subject to there's a joint venture agreementI usually use private lender money for the rehab, and you can start going REIA meetings and asking for private lenders and also ask all your friends and family.Here's an exampleHundred thousand dollar house ARV needing 10,000 in rehabIf it's 65% of ARV minus rehab costs that's 55,000 for the sellerWhat seller in their right mind would take 55,000 for a 100k house that needs 10,000 work?

I could pay it all off, make above minimum payments for all, or transfer the balance of this last card to 0%.

Because if you leave your current employer or fired the balance will be due immediately on that loan.

As the property owner you get the benefit of the upside, but also the downside.Since you are selling the property it is really more appropriate that you pursue the balance owed as the owner of the property.  

@Andrew Johnson What would you consider to be a good balance between cash-flow and appreciation?  

1) Change my degree to finance/real estate. 2) Get a credit card (to start building credit) and use it for small things and have the balance automatically paid off each month. 3) Get a job as a loan officer, leasing agent, property manager, handy man, etc. to save more money and have W2 income. 4) As soon as you can qualify for a loan, find a house near your college campus and use your $25k savings to buy it as your primary residence, then flip it while you live there or rent it. 5) After you graduate, use your additional savings you were able to come up with to buy another house to flip/rent. 6) From there decide if you want to keep working a job and invest in real estate on the side or use all your savings you were able to accumulate in college (because everything is paid for!)

So find a balance but until you get to the point that your buying a property a month or so.. your just like thousands of small time investors.. best agents don't have time for you frankly.