SF is know to have 20-40,000 vacant units by wealthy LL's who don't want to deal.

At your age that alone will probably make you reasonably wealthy.

I realize that we will need to be wealthy to retire comfortably by the time I get to retirement age, thus the side biz I hope to be able to do. 

@William Costello Back in the day syndications were an investment strategy reserved for the ultra-wealthy and well-connected. 

The underlying dream is based on the fact that we both are both burnt out from making our employers very wealthy, and want to become self-employed and to achieve financial freedom.

They claim they are unaffordable, provide no cash flow, too tenant friendly, however true wealth is real estate is built through mortgage paydown, the tax benefits, and appreciation.

Generational wealth is only achievable by owning assets.

Also, I know he is not a stocks guy and has no retirement accounts, all of his wealth is in his real estate.

Generational wealth is one of my biggest goals!

No one get wealthy on monthly cashflow (at least not in my market Houston, Texas).It's even very hard in 2021 to find a TRUE cash flowing property without putting in some sweat equity or large down-payment (20-30% in most cases).