We feel the power of Biggerpockets community and are very appreciative for all your feedback! 

REI has been something I've been incredibly interested in and passionate about for the last 5 years, this is my first step towards financial freedom.

I’m also in the process of doing some soul searching and creating some concrete, long term goals that will allow me to achieve financial freedom by age 50.

Tips (reported tips), overtime, bonuses... all a 2 year average. may be worth making sure you are considered "full time" or have "full time employment" before you apply for a home loan; otherwise, taking a few less hours here and there could result in dropping your purchasing power in the 11th hour. 

Your profile says both of you are teachers and want to get to financial freedom. 

In other words, in the power of what it can buy.

I think it's safe to say we all get into real estate investing at least in part for the freedom it can provide.

Any insights on wage growth and purchasing power ?

SFRs are more expensive  and often require a larger initial investment but come with more freedom.

For those in this area, would we be better off looking for a single family home or a small multi (2-4 units) so that way we have more freedom in how we want to structure our leases and have the ability to do weekly rentals?