A few years ago he decided to build my mothers dream home in Sugar Land, Texas.

Usually (no offense to architects, I am an engineer also) architects dream on the most beautiful design they could ever draw, or at least something close to it, but we as contractors need to poke their heads to bring them to reality -both architectural drafts and dream finishes-, the dream drawing is simply what it is on paper, but when you start to put dollar values to it, either the deal is not a deal, or you hire someone to make the deal happen.

The point there is the method of marketing weighted heavily into the viewpoint of treating those like securities.  

The rentals are with management companies and carry their weight.  

My goal is to live my dream and have my money work for me.

Living the dream. 

I've had the desire to do real estate for some years and now finally have the drive to live my dream.

Yes, the new footing needs to be able to carry the weight of the garage door and accessories.

I am coming to that realization that a degree is not necessary like in other fields and really does not carry that much weight in real estate.

As cliche as it sounds, I first became interested in investing primarily to find our next dream property and ultimately gain financial independence, wealth and early retirement just like countless others before me.