If you are starting off in Northern Oakland County, lots of solid Real Estate in Northern Oakland/Macomb County.  

I agree that I should go easy into investing and even if it doesn't pan out for the near future I definitely want to learn as much as possible so that when I am done with school I already have a solid knowledge base.   

It's been on the market for about 2 months and she can't land a solid buyer.  

You have to interview buyers under the time constraint of the purchase contract...and you might not find a buyer, might find buyers that have criteria that doesn't match what you found, might find only buyers that aren't real, or find a real buyer only at the last minute that knows there is a gun to your head and you have no negotiating power.A better approach is to align yourself with a couple of really solid, active, no-nonsense buyers.

Insurance is a bit more, especially on the Victorian, but they are solid houses!

@Daniel Harnsberger The east end area does seem to be solid for investors.

Now go do...As far as your plan, it actually sounds solid, and you want to know why, because you have a plan.

I'm looking at a few listings that look to be solid deals for buy and hold that other people are flipping (over 10% cash on cash return). 

These are only opinions and in my personal/investors experience I have had the same amount of problems in properties $75k-$100k that I have had in properties I purchase for less than $20kAs far as where to invest I think Memphis, Indy, Cleveland, Dallas, Houston, Birmingham, Kansas City, and Atlanta are solid markets you could invest in with the money that you currently have on hand.

It’s becoming increasingly evident that Ohioans are regaining confidence that housing is a solid long-term investment.”