However, you would then be selling your house, so there would be two sets of closing costs involved and you would have to figure out who all is paying them (the seller, you, the buyer, or a combination).

This situation just sounds like a recipe for disaster.Hold onto your money and find a local mentor who has experience (in years not months) investing in the type of real estate in which you want to be involved.

Be involved in the community.

That involved updating the kitchen with new cabinets, flooring, sink, appliances, made the living room / kitchen an open plan.

In a nutshell, step away from that screen and go get involved in your world. :)

I don't analyze schools, or shopping centers, or grocery stores, or anything else that doesn't involve numbers with $$$ in front. 

I would definitely check out the Real Estate Events and Happenings section as there are usually several different events for local investors every month, and they're generally great for meeting people involved in different facets of the industry to build out your team.It's certainly challenging to find good deals nowadays in the area--there's a lot competition, and almost everything you'll see on the MLS will be relatively overpriced (and/or gone within days/hours of being posted).

I am also looking to get involved in multi family, but in my area.

Typically a check list is involved

I have many apartments and 2 daycare facilities although none in the same building so that would be right up my alley.If you're fairly new to real estate investing and it's not a great deal, there may be some complexity involved so you may want to pass.