We debate selling it all the time but we know homes in CA usually always increase in value and it is just a waiting game and we can’t sell it right now and make a profit yet.

This is a great community to connect with people, learn the ropes, and get advice from those who've been in the game for a while.

If BRICS was joined by OPEC, that's it, game over for USD and "west".     

Hello, I am completely new to real estate investing and was hoping to find out from people who have been in the game for a while what a realistic earning potential would be from accumulating long term rentals over time. 

Hey Account Closed - Check out your competition with furnished finder that is where a lot of Medium Turn rentals list their properties.I have a MTR in Chicago that has been decently successful...whatever I have found throughout my entire life and investing career is it is never one property/deal that is a grand slam...Rather, the grand slam is done by hitting many singles and using systems and processes to scale your operation; the combination of scaling and experience in a niche of real estate allows you to hit unlimited grand slams because, unlike baseball, real estate is NOT a zero-sum game.

So I require skin in the game (average is 5% to 15%) to offset this.

But I looking at the long game - I want valued tenants that take care of the property and minimize wasting my time.

Assuming the property owner isn't playing games, why would an independent appraiser inflate the value? 

Real estate is a long game and waiting is the hardest part. 

You can find loads of articles, videos, and online courses that'll give you a solid foundation in construction basics.Network and Find a Mentor: Try connecting with people who've been in the game for a while.