I am interested in getting into real estate, I like the Northern Virginia area but it is much too expensive to buy, but my family lives south of Houston and houses are dirt cheap.

(Happy to give you my honest opinion on the deal if you'd like to share details via PM.)There may be some heartburn in the short-term, but what's bad for the Energy industry (cheap oil) is good for the rest of the economy (cheap gas).

I can sell such products cheap enough so the employer can significantly reduce their costs, even if I'm accumulating a big pile of cash.  

It would be quick and cheap to get the pool back into good shape. 

I stay within a basic protocol of 3 bedroom starter homes that I can easily sell one day when I am ready to move on…  That said, I am looking at a few condos (that were coverted from apartments) for super cheap.  

Most of the time, I find the "cheap" band aid fixes just keep you coming back for multiple calls and repairs.

Don't confuse price and value ... just because something is cheap does not always mean it is a better deal or better investment, the opposite is true too.

A "live for free" house hack might not translate into a good deal when fully rented and, conversely, a good rental might not provide cheap living for the year when I am occupying a unit. 

Bad smells, needs new paint.. no big deal and easy/cheap to fix.

Cheap but cumbersome.