She is retired from the postal service after 25 years, he is retired from Ford Motor after a 35 year career.

The job you have now, do you think you are able to find a similar job or career that is closer to home?

My ultimate goal is to make a career out of being a real estate investor and a 40k/year maintenance job was just not cutting it.

@Alexander Felice is one I know, and I know he used a VA loan to purchase his first property that launched his investment career. 

And be sure to note who will be patient with you and give you the training needed to get you real estate career starting on solid footing.Getting a license is not necessary to be active in real estate.

This will be much safer than investing in the south side at this point in your REI career. 

I would like to know how can I start a career in this business.

As far as your real estate investment career goes, I myself am going to invest out of state by the end of the year as California prices are making it difficult to accomplish my cash flow goals to keep my wife at home with our son and daughter on the way (Due October).

I always say that if you can survive the mid-size property phase of your career you'll survive anything. 

We entered the game late in life as an unexpected career change but really like being self employed.