Then you learn to manage, chose tenants, handle tenant requests and contractors through rehab, and the skills you'll build up you'll get to use all your life in commercial and residential. 

Being a sponsor isn't just about skill--it's also about financial strength. 

My dad is a physical-labor kind of guy and although I've learned a lot of trade-skills from him, I lack exposure to the financial nuances of buying and selling property. 

You're probably going to be a lot better off hiring out this work and focusing your time on income producing activities that allow you to use your current skill set.

You have skills people need. 

I was thinking that my language skills might be desirable.

I think a skilled attorney could sue the state on constitutional grounds. 

But skilled nursing/assisted living, office, SFH, will soon follow the downward trend. 

Also on the rehab portion, I'm guessing with my skills at finding cheap material and appliances along with a builder that lives next door we can come way under rehab cost.

All were foreclosures that required rehab work and in a couple of cases remodeling of floor plans to make current with out of pocket cash and my own skills.