My own Air Force career hasn't transplanted me much (with the exception of this most recent PCS), but I have traveled in my own time to many parts of the States/world, and love experiencing the cultures and respective markets of other areas & countries.

Cultural and demographic shifts are happening in this market.

I am looking to buy and hold to produce long-term wealth, I am not looking for a quick dollar or to make any money upfront.

Banks aren't exactly think tanks, the culture is to stay within the lines, dont take risks. 

Tired landlord.Bought land for development, elderly lady, wealthy, had a zero basis and a 3/4 million to pay taxes on.

However, depending on their Net worth - they may be required to pay an estate tax.The wealthy use trusts for various reasons.One reason is to decrease the tax liability of the "estate tax".The wealthy are required to pay an estate tax if their net worth(or gifting during their life) is above a certain threshold at passing(5.45Million in 2016) .The wealthy do this by transferring assets to a trust and only including in their estate the value of the assets transferred to the trust at the date of transfer.Example. if your parents transferred 5.45 million dollars of assets to a trust and the value of the assets increased to 10million; they would only include the 5.45 in the estate tax calculation.You need to make sure the trust is set up as an irrevocable trust(contact a lawyer on the type of trust that needs to be set up).Another talking point is that assets in a trust are at the discretion of the trustee until the assets are transferred to the beneficiary.

This area is defined by a glut of housing built to relatively high standards back in the day that needs rehab, very high new-construction costs, and a shrinking population culturally unashamed of thrift that isn't willing to pay the big bucks for premium housing because they know they can do better.

A real estate millionaire is wealthy according to normal standards, but they aren't rich in terms of income. 

I am looking for a career change because this is DEFINATELY not where I want to be or what I want to do.Now ultimately my goal is to become independately wealthy from REI(various goals of flipping, holding and renting.

Employee reviews about culture/working there on Glassdoor seem overall very bad having not so great things to say about management/CEO/etc.