Ready to learn (and soon buy) in Spokane, WA

Hi there, my name is Conor, can't wait to meet you all!

I'm a software designer with a wife, 2 kiddos, and a third baby arriving in a few weeks.

I'm fairly new to the Spokane area, just moved here a bit over a year ago, but I absolutely love it. Our personal residence is a great old craftsman house with a 15yr mortgage. I'd love to pay it off before that though, because I think I'd feel more flexible to try other things without the mortgage weight around my neck.

I got onto bigger pockets via Mister Money Mustache and The Mad Fientist. I'm passionate about getting financial independence at an earlier-than-average age, and my goal is to get there by age 42. That gives me 10 years from now :)

I'm here on Bigger Pockets to learn about real estate investment. I'm not sure what strategies I'll be pursuing yet, but at this point I imagine I'll start out with buy-and-hold single family rentals. Any advice you've got a for me as a beginner is welcome.

If you're in the Spokane area I'd love to meet you.

Happy day!
-Conor