I have a good paying job as an engineer, but just don't have the money saved up to invest on my own.

Lots of vacant or burned out property.

You need to keep your RPM up prior to letting out the clutch and driving, but you will never go anywhere if all you're doing is revving the engine :)

I have even had one burn down earlier this year. 

So sorry you were burned.

As an engineer put the data away and pick up the phone and build real relationships.

What I questioned, was how/why you arrived at yours.The order of how to design a REI Plan starts by reverse engineering from your financial Goals. 

We buy and sell 2-4 homes a month here in this market and you can get burned if you are not spot on with your market values, the upside and downside of the neighborhoods you are choosing to buy in.

I've found that chasing my own leads through word of mouth and buying from wholesalers and burned out investors is a lot easier and more effective here.

I recently conducted some search-engine researching when I came across the name of a one James Altucher ( www.jamesaltucher.com ) .