Start in the stock market young to take optimal advantage of compounding returns.

You had enough risk margin to absorb a loan that may not be optimal, and you have already learned a few lessons. 

Build up your cash now and wait until the recession hits, or find an investment that even with conservative underwriting provides cash flow in less than optimal conditions to help weather a slowdown.

In case these were not covered I'll share my favorite options/ principles to do when you are young or starting out:- Understand that almost every successful person or person in general is working to optimize their business/life and they would benefit greatly from having more time (free time).. leverage the fact that you have the one thing everyone else needs, find the people who understand the absurd value of time and give them yours. 

I know with someone who doesnt have an agent, I can push them into some bad decision making and put my client the seller into an extremely optimal position.I love it though.

(The program is Healthy Neighborhoods Program).I guess my question is .. being that I would like to get into investing ASAP and i feel like this would be a great small step , are there any more options out there that would be more optimal for my situation (hard money lender, other programs, better routes)? 

I have worked through Avery Carl's system and am looking to implement some of the strategies from "Optimize My AirBnB" as well.

The parking lot to the side is not optimal.

As a newbie with very few folks around me physically that venture into this, you are keeping my optimism high while temporing my enthusiasm with healthy doses of logical reality.

If you are starting out, investors might not be the optimal choice, likely you would make more money and learn with people buying and selling their primary residence.