The lawyer I reached out to got more active after the New Year.

Just a year ago all kinds of real estate folks were pleading for more active listings and saying prices can't continue to climb like this.

In conclusion, it seems as though reducing your living expenses first, and then focusing on increasing your active and passive income will most likely accelerate your journey the quickest while you maintain your full time jobs. 

Those groups are active daily, with a lot of interaction. 

It definitely solves your issue of not having to be actively involved at all in the investment.

I'm just starting to learn how to analyze deals and am actively looking for areas with potential (investigating areas in North Carolina and southern part Virginia).

@John Brees what your CPA means to say is that your income has phased you out of being able to claim passive losses generated by your real estate activities.

Kitchen has had an active leak- source unknown- that has damaged most of the cabinets, master shower and tub are non-functional, AC unit needs to be replaced, garage door needs to be replaced.

Craigslist is very active in our area and can bring many calls.

Bigger Pockets also has a pretty active Texas specific forum too.