I have a reliable project manager in Arizona will skilled workers, I’ve contacted a RE agent, and I’ve been preapproved for $250k.

I will be working at the Texas medical center so I am not sure whether I should house hack near the medical center or further away.

Pre-approved: loan officer runs your credit, and analyzed supporting documents, such as pay stubs, bank/asset statements, tax returns, etc. only as good as the knowledge and skill of the particular loan officers ability to determine qualifying income.

The biggest hurdles for me when self managing is maintaining a network of skilled and reasonable contractors, cataloging all of the expenses, and weeding out bad applicants and bad tenants.

I suspect that a large percentage performed the flip for the learning experience but not by plan; they expected a profit that was not achieved.It would be safest if you realize your first flip could lose money and, if it makes money, the financial compensation likely would not justify the effort and risk.Ideally you would have gain some key knowledge and maybe some skills that could be leveraged on your next flip. 

Biggest blunder - not starting in real estate in my 20s.I spent decades in the medical field, moving from Biomed Engineering to sales and then working my way up the corporate ladder. 

Mad sales skills remember your sweet talking someone out of their equity.7.

Some might need certain benefits and have large medical expenses that would be completely different than someone who wants to maximize retirement contributions.

What are the first skills one should obtain to get started?

It seems to me that if you believe you are able to get a mortgage for an investment property, you will likely be able to get financing on similar or better terms for the payment of this medical bill as well.I think life happens like this, and that your next deal will likely be pushed back 6 months to a year, depending on your income and savings rate, because of this misfortune.