In short, you choose to invest out fo your area for opportunity. 

I have been educating myself for the past 6 months or so on the endless opportunity that is REI.

That could be a great way to find and stay engaged with local investors, realtors and opportunities. http://www.biggerpockets.com/alertsLooks like you've already made some connections with other BP members there in JAX...You can also search for other investors or brokers in your market and follow their journey on Bigger Pockets here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/search/usersBest of luck to you and look forward to following your success on BP!

I wanted to make sure I have enough to cover the unexpected but didnt want to have too much saved away that I may miss out on other opportunities

I would agree that Houston holds many opportunities.

Hello Bigger Pockets,Here are the details -I have been presented with a new job opportunity.

I was looking for an opportunity that made sense and I came across real estate investing. 

Do not get so focused on what you expected investing to be like that you miss great opportunities that are maybe a little outside of your expectations.

@Caleb Heimsoth I’m looking for other great real estate investment opportunities from renowned real estate experts Gary V and Anthony Robbins.

I started out only interested in wholesaling, but after listening to the podcasts, attending a real estate investor meet up and reading anything I can get my hands on (including @Brandon Turner's real estate investing with little or no money down book), I realize there are also many opportunities made possible by creative financing.