Find Brandon's videos on YouTube for the "four square" method of analyzing homes and practice.

I want to purchase a property within 6-8 months of finishing my loan payments and ideally I would use this year to continue learning and crunching numbers on properties that I find for practice, but have no idea what my budget should be because I have no idea what loan amount I might get approved for...I would like to do FHA for the 3.5% down and looking at qualifications I should be able to qualify, but I feel like until I actually sit down and see what exactly I can get approved for, there is a huge gap in my planning...

@Marko Kustudia To be compliant with NV laws, you are supposed to have a contact person within same county or 60 miles:  NRS 118A.260  Disclosure of names and addresses of managers and owners; emergency telephone number; service of process.Regardless of that, having a property manager for long-distance ownership is really a business best practice anyway.

This could be a problem for your family to deal with unless they have the expertise or connections to handle issues without you.House hacking is a great option, and I used my VA loan to purchase my first home with success.

In general, rental real estate is considered passive.There are some exceptions.You normally hire a professional because he/she is knowledgeable in the field that they practice in.

I'm unfamiliar with their practice. 

That attorney is likely just extra hungry for work.I know for me, I try to focus less on the money so that I can focus more on the relationship & expertise of any real estate professionals I am working with.

If this is not your expertise or your dad's expertise, please reach out to a Real Estate attorney.

Many of the investors I work with get their properties off MLS or Loop net, but that part isn't my area of expertise. 

As Jordan mentioned, your most realistic and practical route is to secure a W2, save your capital, build your credit, and minimize any outstanding debt you owe.