My goal is to be a full time RE investor and get financial freedom and good education for my 3 kids thru RE. 

What about things I don't have a receipt for, like paying a kid down the street to mow the lawn and shovel snow?

I have five kids (and I know you have a big family); so, it's easy to find the goal for money...our burn rate is crazy high, particularly when you get into college, cars, and, frankly, looser spending than I prefer. 

You have 2 years to do your homework to figure out which neighborhoods those are or- you can also explore neighborhoods that are already well established but you'll need to lower your expectations about cash flowing the properties.  

Do your homework on MLS inventory for sale and vacancy rates.

Do your homework (due diligence)...

Don’t succumb to the pressure.2.Keep Your Comparables in Hand: A real estate agent will provide you with comparables but do your own homework.

College kids are as fickle as the general public and when the next cool thing comes along they will be gone.Heard about a recent phenomenon where kids are so frugal now that they do all their hooking up online then meet at the bar just to go home with each other and don't even bother buying a drink.

These are the portable, inflatable "houses" that kids can play in in the yard.

And the kids really deserve the best presents.