How to Scale after 5 Rental Income Properties?

[Jared Smith]

I just started listening to BP Podcast a few months ago after completing the Rental Income Podcast with Dan Lane. I am enjoying it and listen while I am running or traveling. I am in the process of buying my 4th home. I have Multi Family and Single Family homes and I work full time where the pay is way too high to walk away. I say this because I now live in AZ where I have properties (Turn Key) and also in OH where my projects are intense - In OH, I am long distance BRRR'ing and long distance land lording which keeps it fun!

In regards to funding, I am using my HELOC account for the down payment. I have been saving up for 20% down payment and then buying another property. I plan on doing this one more time next year, but then after I acquire 5 properties it will be hard to acquire more due to my debt/income ratio even with an 814 credit score and no debt other than my rental income properties.

I have a serious capacity for stress and risk. I stay extremely aggressive in work, investments and in life! With the stock market being extremely volatile, just like many of the members in the BP Community, is the reason why I love real estate so much! With that being said, I wanted to reach out with my question:

After I acquire 5 properties (where my goal long term goal is to acquire 10), do you recommend paying off the 5 for a year or two until the market correction unfolds or look for other types of funding? In order for me to scale outside of just being a sole individual real estate investor, I would need some guidance on partnerships and outside funding as I have been using traditional financing.

Please send me your recommendations as I am reading lots of books and articles and networking to add more weapons to my tool belt over the next 5 years!

-Jared