Some tech stocks have gone sideways for employees in that time period.

I would continue to work with the same contractor next time around, he did a good job and his bid was more competitive than others.

you would still need to save up money to purchase your own properties, it would just be a different jobs.

Save up for FHA 3.5% down payment since you have a good job.

If you have a good paying job... keep doing that and invest in passive deals.

Add that if your job is in Las Vegas, which it is, then you are basically stuck.

Pretty much had a failing business and needed a way to have an income as I pretty much couldn't get a job.

I have experience with real estate from a construction and leasing viewpoint because if my day job but figured the next logical step is to start investing on my own.

Motivated sellers (there are always a few in any market who need to sell and move) would have to lower their asking price to find a buyer who is able to make an offer.https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/affordability-index.aspWith regards to finding the local opportunity areas, the seasoned investors there said they followed the cement trucks to the job sites.

I’d try to get a technical high paying job and dump my extra w2 money into real estate deals instead