Or should I stay the course, hold steady and purchase a quality investment property with a strong ROI and then begin investing in stocks while building equity in the property so I can use a home equity loan in the future to acquire another property. 

The amount of foreign money flowing into these markets and the fact that builders only see a  profit motive in luxury units is eventually going to bite the construction industry pretty hard.As David Gudmundsen pointed out in a  recent episode of the podcast, rent-value ratios are a pretty steady guide to the foolishness of the market.

Install new toilet, wax seal and water supply line.

The market at the moment is very hot, yet in the future a steady growth is foreseen.

Try HD Supply in Santa Ana for basic exterior doors.

I'm also concerned about the long term water supply.

You are in a great place - steady job, great credit score, no liabilities, nice amount of savings and are learning about the business at a young age.  

This steady stream of marketing pieces will stream and stream, after you are a household name due to mailers, knocking on doors, and word of mouth from other people in the neighborhood you will be in! 

Sorry, I should have added that flooring for the most part is going to the store or looking online and ordering the supplies and buying the install from the store and setting a time to let the worker in. 

Rental market has been in short supply for a new years in Bergen County, driving prices up.