This all said i would only do this if you have a dependable income source to support the decision. 

When it comes to hiring call centers, I don’t think my current business position will support it.

You will need to send in supporting comps and it does typically take a couple of months, so I would get started right away. 

That's why single parents getting child support often can't "count" that child support, for mortgage purposes, after the kid's 15th birthday.... 

Hi Everyone, for the past three months since I have graduated I have taken baby steps in learning how to become a Real Estate Investor (listening and reading BP podcasts/books & real estate podcasts in the Chicago area such as the "Straight Up Chicago Investor") I have also recently started a full time job in which I am leveraging to support my goal of becoming a REI.

Then you eventually get good enough to support a family and you don't have any exhausting corporate ladder determining your income and future.

Based solely on your criteria, research areas that support that goal.

The agent should have 100% command of such a situation and be advising you for directions and options, with supporting information.

Just obsess over it.Once you get a base of education you will be able to decide which niche you would like to pursue (house flipping, wholesaling, long term rentals, short term rentals, commercial, etc).When you pick your niche, then you can start networking and building a team who will be able to support you in your business.

I think keeping the wood panels would be justified from an economical perspective, but I always try to think whether I would rent such a unit (which is why my instinct is telling me to replace with drywall though the economics support keeping the wood panels.