One thing you mentioned was success in trading stocks and real estate but the problem i find is both require capital.

I also know of areas in Houston that we could "spot build", this means buy existing lots that are ready for construction.

You're definitely in the right spot when it comes to real estate.

Those investors even if they have zero experience tend to have lot's of money from their executive jobs, businesses they own or have sold, stocks,etc.  

@Sean Walton I definitely plan on leaving my stocked Keurig and crystal light packs.

So I guess at the very least REI is our safer-place-than-the stock-market(!)

If you took that same $3000 of annual savings and put them in stocks that make 7% per year on average you only end up with $75,000. 

So when I look at an investment property I add that to the cost of purchasing on the spot, in my head, for a close number - it doesn't have to be exact.

Before I began investing in the Mid-West I looked at Schanectady, Rochester and a few other spots up north and there were two issues that I found.  

You can see this in the stock market every time as well.Irrespective of that, it's something I have said and seen for a long time: more and more people need to rent (vs being able to buy themselves), for a variety of resons.