Help level the playing field, one short cutter at a time.

If you have a definite goal or field in mind that requires a certain level of education, then finish school, but you can use your real estate to build the capital you need to not go into massive debt.I think your idea of buying something with an income suite is excellent!

If the place WAS winterized, you would see some telltale signs: red colored antifreeze in toilet bowls, field service stickers with phone numbers, signs on the water faucets that say it has been winterized, etc. 

Your profession being in the medical field should provide all the private money you will need.

It's one thing to leave a job and start your own company in a similar field or in an area you have expertise.  

You need specific numbers so you know what the entire playing field looks like.

I would like to transition to becoming a full time real estate investor and work in my primary field part time and when I have built a good portfolio, retire in my primary field. 

A growing field in this area is Behavioural Economics and within that you can find research and books on Investor Psychology which is all very interesting and exciting if you're into that stuff!

Great stuff for anybody considering this field, that it all starts with modeling your desired profit margin and working backwards within the market fundamentals and city codes to see if you can get there with current sale prices without speculation. 

Come and ask your question of some experts in the field.