This has caused their asset prices to go parabolic, and has permitted even the least savvy RE investors to become insanely rich in ways that far exceed their investing prowess and/or intellect.

He only wants to demonstrate his “superior” intellect.  

I hope this isn't too long, but the reason I'm spending time on this post is because you have demonstrated a much higher degree of intellect, professionalism and personal traits by your accomplishments in your profession.

Now I am looking forward to getting into the "Uncomfortable Zone" and dreaming bigger.I love learning new things; especially if they challenge my intellect. 

A lack of college education might have worked 20 years ago but you will go behind (not due to a lack of intellect) without a college education as a baseline.

I get it, the forum is here for the discussion but I want to encourage you to make every effort possible to find the answers on your own, exhaust all efforts to get the information you are looking for before asking people to answer the question for you, more often than not you will find the information on your own or you will refine your question to the point that it becomes interesting enough for people of solid intellect to respond to.

However, I know their stressed from using all of their intellect to solve problems for a company that doesn't care about them.

YES, I can use my intellect to calculate the probability of Brooklyn, in certain areas, doing well in the next 10 years!

Problem solved.I bow to your superior intellect of Texas Quit Claim laws.

I don't necessarily have the funds needed to secure even a cheap house but I have a pretty keen intellect, and I know there are options for folks in the same position as me.My real estate agent keeps stating she needs a pre-approval letter, then I have to fill out a bunch of paperwork and basically I'm obligating myself to buy.