I want to start investing there to increase cash reserves however I have an end goal of buying and holding multiple properties that are free and clear in order to sustain a comfortable, but not lavish, lifestyle for myself and my family. 

FHA is very picky when it comes to 3 and 4 unit MFHs making you prove the income from other units will sustain the mortgage which gets difficult since you'll be living in one of the other units and the LTV will be really high.

It seems to me you will be able to sustain the trials and will only come out stronger.

I have heard that your best chance of sustaining yourself full-time is exceeding 10 properties.

If your assumptions are based on how fast real estate values have been going up the last couple years, I would caution you that I do not think the current growth trajectory is sustainable.

Some people attempt to build a business out of this, but I dont think that is really sustainable.  

Let me explain that.The DSCR is a loan officer's metric for the MFU to sustain itself with rents.

I have recently gotten my real estate license and am actually currently looking for brokerages to interview with.My long term goals are to buy and hold several rental properties, and create a sustainable amount of cashflow from them.

I don't know understand how Austin can sustain it's multi percent appreciation rate. 

My goal is to eventually not need w2 income to sustain my way of life.