You can do a lot off of spreadsheets in the beginning, but eventually you need automation. 

It’s good to budget for unforeseen expenses.Regarding PMI, it’s worth discussing directly with your loan servicer since many lenders require holding the property for a period or reaching specific equity thresholds before removal.If market rents are $2,200–$2,500, hiring a property manager could help you optimize rent while taking the burden of tenant screening off your plate.

As far as I know, you can deduct off your W-2 income if you are a real estate professional. 

Now many escrows will require that the seller sign off on the EMD release, which can be frustrating since most contracts say it should be a unilateral function (buyer automatically gets their EMD back if they cancel within the option period), but if a seller chooses to be a jerk and not sign it, the EMD could be frozen in escrow, so don't use your rent money for it. 

I would roll one into another as each paid off.

Thanks to strong bookings and smart management, I recently paid off the entire HELOC!

How long would it take before a 75% cash-out refinance allows you to pay off the mortgage and have enough cash for a 25% down payment on another property priced at $350,000?

Typically to grow a real estate business and raise money you are better off partnering with someone.

Trading off current cashflow for principal payoff in the future?

I have a good cash flowing portfolio that has appreciated extremely well In the last 10 years, it’s a small college town off the radar,   and I know it’s a unicorn situation to find deals that are in markets set for great appreciation, and have solid cash flow, but I know there’s more out there!