Be patient, remember it is the tortoise who wins the race.  

Think of "the tortoise and the hare": who wins that race?

I'm an avid reader and actually take pleasure in this sort of research, but what frightens me -and this is no shade to all the kindness of info offered me by some of the industry professionals here-, .... is exactly that: There is such a largess of professional brokers, flippers, money managers, agents and companies vying for my attention that at this point, my instincts tell me to back into my tortoise shell, read a few books on this, and THEN come back into this information market.

Take your time, remember the tortoise and the hare story.I would start of by renting your parents house and see if you like being a landlord for 1 year. 

I will probably just go the route of the tortoise as opposed to the hare and continue saving up until I can locate a property that I just can't pass up. 

Landlording is the "tortoise" way to wealth and flipping is the "hare".

Remember the tortoise ,and the Hare.

Outdoor features include Mediterranean-inspired landscaping, an entry courtyard with water features, an infinity-edge swimming pool, a putting green, a fire pit, and a built-in barbeque with bar seating.

It's not exciting but it's the turtle(Tortoise and the Hare). 

Tortoise vs the hare.