I retired at 32, after working in investment management (mutual funds) for 14 years.FYI: I gained financial independence by investing in real estate.

So you currently have income that you can rely on to get you to you goal of financial independence . 

I formerly practiced real estate law before I made the transition to opening my own independent brokerage and focusing on residential real estate.

If someone wants to get to what I call the Economic Independence point, where the cash flow is large enough to cover or exceed all monthly expenses, focusing on cash flow is good as long as the quality of the properties and the other criteria accompanying cash flow are still met.If on the other hand one is young enough and has a longer infesting career ahead so that the economic independence point is not the main driver, the equity you are pointing out can be used after a while by applying HELOC to keep growing the portfolio without losing the high-quality asset.In some ways, there are investments in real estate approaches that are more complex.

After two layoffs in the past 4 years, we have decided it is time to leave the corporate world behind and work as independent contractors, and take greater control of our future.

Independence is proposing mandatory rental inspections, that landlords would have to pay for. 

I have been in manufacturing for almost thirty years and I feel I need to make a move toward financial independence. 

I posted this in a different thread, but I'll add it here as well:If your business made payments to an independent contractor of $600 or more during the course of the year, you are required to issue a form 1099.

It has been my dream for years to become independent and grow my own business in investing.

In my experience around my area, the credit unions and small independent banks always have more attractive terms.