For the most part, I have that it does make financial sense to keep your initial purchase (especially if you put little money down), and it was a relatively inexpensive home.  

They include using contingency clauses in the Purchase and Sale Agreements, locking up the property through a lease with an option to buy, cooperation clauses where the other party agrees to cooperate with you, and Reverse 1031 Exchanges where you can buy and close on your Replacement Property first and then you have 180 calendar days to sell your currently property. 

Many real estate strategies I've heard of go along the lines of using a third parties capital to fund your investment.

I am conservative by nature so based on that I would say is slow down a little before you expand to so many different markets so quickly.

You want to be conservative but you probably should refine that.

There were also three other interested parties there.  

The security part is throwing me off.  

The entire process was enjoyable, even the sweat equity part. I

Running around from plex to plex or house to house carrying every kind of spare plumbing and part I may need can be very tiresome.

You can assign the contract, if it doesn't prohibit it, or you'll need an addendum executed by all parties.