. - Investor simply means non-owner occupied (not a primary res, not a vacation home).  

I realize I cannot simply buy a house and immediately start renting it out, yet I am very happy at the place I'm currently living ($600/month ALL utilities included).

If you negotiate a good enough deal that pays you then complete the transaction with the investor to buy the house you have under contract.

Completely new to the field of RE but I see huge potential! 

Properties advertised as "University Circle / Case Western area" when they're technically sort of close by but in complete warzones.

Now Santa Clara Country cites a violation and requires to rebuild the garage based on current building codes and leaves us only 25 days to complete the work.

I'll try to be concise in my question while providing enough detail.I just completed upgrades (new vinyl plank flooring, purchased washer/dryer) for my rental property while I'm between tenants.  

If you ever plan on amassing a large portfolio, you simply can't scale if you're loosing more and more money the larger you grow.4) True, my shared investments are certainly more complicated.

Simply because I feel my people and negotiating skills could easily be transformed and work to an extreme advantage in this field of the real estate market!

You're not "saving" anything, you're simply not spending it.