Is that path or is there a better way to get to my end goal simpler?   

I don't know your experience level but if you don't have time you could play the numbers game and carpet bomb the whole neighborhood.

Play the long game and build relationships with people without asking for their business.

Explore amenities like Video games, dartboards, etc.

That $1,300 a month buffer is your safety net, and trust me, that’s going to be a game-changer if any unexpected maintenance pops up or you need to cover a vacancy for a month or two.Now, about that feeling of being overwhelmed with debt..I had a client once, let’s call him John, who felt the same way when he hit the $1M mark in mortgages across a few properties.

Long-Term PerspectiveBe Patient: Real estate investing is often a long-term game.

I know this is a super competitive space and like @Joshua Granberg said, the new zoning changes in western Washington in recent years has been a game changer for these types of units.

This also leads owners to ASSUME simpler is better when it comes to management contracts.

My advisor suggested that at my stage of the game, 8 properties, it likely made more sense to keep the extra money available or in the business to use as emergency funds or to accumulate for another down payment.

This also leads owners to ASSUME simpler is better when it comes to management contracts.