Switch over to past sales, and there are a ton of sales... but most of them aren't at those price points, they're just those active properties pre-flip at 100-200K cheaper.

The rest is paid at closing

Zip code 68104-Last years taxes = $1520-Purchase price and financed amount at 4.6% for 30 years = $120,000-Closing costs and funding fee (VA loan) = $9,200 paid out of pocket-Pretty much turn key property, minor repairs that I can do, less then $200 worth of work.

and the only thing I "really" look forward to is the day i don't have to do what someone else wants me to do in order to get paid. 

We will have a fair amount tied up in renovations when we are done, somewhere in the ball park or $65k, we only paid $35k for it though.

As such I am looking to get pre-approved for an FHA loan, since that seems the best way to get started. 

Or did you mean 5 year payoff as in the loans will balloon and will be required to be paid in full after 5 years completely ?

The only one I have paid for is Mashvisor, and I do not recommend it.

I recently turned down a scholarship for a paid masters program in Ecological Restoration (I'm an Environmental Scientist by trade).

You can’t expect someone to spend that much time without getting adequately paid.