Welcome Mark Walker - I've sold engineering software to Seagate, I'm a MF broker and investor.

That ultimate exit (bills/expenses) dictates the criteria for you property profiles, which then dictate the market you should be investing in.What works for me, what works for others, isn't necessarily what's best for you.In other words, you should be reverse engineering your plan.

I would suggest you go check out Charleston SC  we are active there and have been for the last 4 years it has a VERY robust infil new construction market.. of course price points start at 300k .. our current builds there are 350 to 700k.you can do 300 to 700k and above if you go up to Madison MS..  

Buy or inherit and hold all their lives while working the properties for income.I've seen teachers, firemen, software engineers and all sorts of people utilize both strategies successfully.

Jim Ingersoll, the speaker, was an engineer before turning full entrepreneur.  

Funny how all us tech / engineering nerds end up in real estate. :) 

We got an engineer to sign off on the foundation after we fixed the issues.

My background is in Engineering and Business but I have extensive experience designing and building houses.

In my opinion you need more of a creative real estate education on Power Prospecting - Contract Engineering - Negotiating - Creative Financing - Making offers - dealing with off market properties - Hybrid offers - Public Auctions and creating credit lines and cash partnerships - to mention a few disciplines .Baltimore is a small town - but there are a ton of deals that can be found when you go under-ground to dig them up -I would be glad to give you some referrals if still think you need an agent to represent you.

Sure, if you hire others who have the licenses/certifications that you need in whatever area you are in.You'll probably need a licensed architect and/or engineer for the plans, a licensed GC to pull the permits, licensed plumbers/electricians/HVAC contractors to do the mechanical work, licensed testing companies to do the various energy efficiency tests, etc.Hire people who have the appropriate licenses, and you should be good...