My goal has been to learn the ins and outs of the real estate sales business, all while being able to accumulate the capital I would need to begin investing in real estate.

Great time to get in and conduct both rental accumulation and flipping some real estate.

Once you accumulate enough of them, they take care of themselves.

Is everything they pay in the intervening period rent  (i.e. there is no portion accumulated towards purchase)?

Is it wiser to purchase a primary dwelling and then after we save up again purchase an investment property or would it be more prudent to purchase an investment property and continue renting until the income from the new property accumulates?  

I am in my early 30s (soon to be mid 30s) and am married with one child who was born just over a month ago.My goal:  To accumulate wealth.  

It's in my blood.That being said alot of the "gurus" on here have read the "Millionaire Fastlane" and have realized that they can accumulate wealth faster (and sometimes easier) doing something else as the author says that RE is a Slow Lane process.

It would be a lot more exciting to keep accumulating properties with cashflow from your other properties.  

I wish I would have been accumulating properties there years ago.

Accumulate lots of good debt.