You could see if she can obtain a letter, paystub statement, etc from her employer showing that her salary is not being paid currently.

However, real estate should not ever be in an S-Corp because you lose the ability to take key tax benefits like depreciation and pass-through losses, which can increase your overall taxes.Another point to consider: S-Corp owners can pay themselves a reasonable salary, which affects payroll taxes and how much profit flows through.

Using an S-Corp can help by splitting your income between salary and distributions, reducing that FICA hit.Deductions: Make sure you’re capturing every write-off you can like mileage, tools, marketing, software, even meals and travel when they’re tied to the business.

Without your business, you would have paid IRS taxes on your $100k salary. 

Even in a C neighborhood, new flooring, paint, light fixtures, even kitchen cabinets, vanities etc. are relatively inexpensive and can be done yourself fairly easily that would probably drive more value than almost anything else early on.Next, I would focus on trying to drive your active income up. 45k is a great starting place but its much easier to double your salary getting into a useful skill like sales than it is to double your investment returns.

Compensation wise, it's pretty much a guaranteed 6 figure salary as long as you put in the work.

Having that net worth : salary is nice so no complaints there - but if you are noting for investing purposes - Honestly today I feel it's over rated as the government has made it easier to invest in real estate through crowdfunding and reg a offerings. 

Last time I checked salaries are not even close to keeping up to these increases

Just to change a lightbulb you have to send out a qualified person on a w2 salary with benefits in a company vehicle, drive across town, find out it's a special light bulb, spend an hour going to the store, back to the unit (hopefully without having to reschedule for another day) and then install it.

To answer your first question: We are interested in real estate as a way to create wealth faster than just adding to our index funds.We have decent salaries right now but I am pretty capped out on what I will make in my current career path.