Looking for guidance

[Matt Pippin]

Hello everyone,

Wondering if a few of you can help me work this through. I am new to real estate (zero properties, currently a renter myself). I am currently using the FIRE strategy to become financially independent. I am on pace to achieve that in six years and join the millionaire club two years after that. I would like to expand into real estate to further that objective but my primary motivation is that I'm bored with my W2 job and need a bigger challenge. I don't hate my job, it's just too easy for me after doing it for 20 years.

I have $50K in savings (separate from 401K / investments) that I could use to start but my wife's motivation is to purchase a house for our family. I'm not interested in paying inflated prices for a primary residence at the moment and would rather invest the money into a rental property that cashflows.

I know this is a weird question given the audience I'm asking. Is it worth getting into real estate to meet our financial independence objective even though we're going to make it in 6 years anyway without the headaches of dealing with tenants?

Appreciate your thoughts.