Find a duplex  (MLS, agent, word of mouth, driving for dollars)    .  

I have a ton of time on my hands, plenty of income to cover my bills and save, and a drive to work on something of my own.  

Two things that stand out to me:You mentioned traffic - as a property manager your highest value is not driving to the properties.

I have spent a lot of time and brain power trying to understand the barrier and driving force.

I did my driving for dollars and sent out my yellow letters this past Monday the 15th.

Ive been trying to get into some homes Im interested in, but am having a tough time getting a Realtor to answer the phone, call back in a timely manner, or be willing to drive across town to show me their listing.

There are a couple nice areas in alton but those cheap properties are on streets that arent safe to drive down, let alone live on.  

Thus driving almost all monthly costs related to utilities down to nothing.Habitat Super Eco House

Then move onto the driving for dollars, mailings, etc.  

It's about a 30-40 minute drive from the city, and public transportation is also available.