My question is we could start smaller and build up , let there learning curve catch up so to speak or go bigger and speedup the pace . i am not going crazy risky but would like to start at say either 3 or 4 triplexs / fourplexs or just go commercial .

I personally am looking to build up more rental properties in Ohio currently.

Congratulations. not sure on the floors we have been using real bamboo  and in our other high end home it will be heart of pine.. not familiar with Houzzcabinets were ordered  counter tops were custom concrete though.. house is 4 stories and what makes it special is it will be the last one built that can be that tall in that area they changed the code right after we were permitted Charleston is challenging you need the height to get the sq ft in the house that house is still only 1700 sq ft.. you have to build up out of flood zone in that area so you cant go under and first level has to be parking so now you can only do two floors above garage.. and because the lots were created back when the US was created basically they are all tiny 20 to 30 feet wide 50 to 80 feet deep.. so it going to be interesting going forward.. basically going to be pretty tough to have anything over about 1500 sq ft.

Cash flow may not be as high but appreciation and principal pay down/equity build up is high due to the higher rents being collected.IT ALL DEPENDS ON YOUR PERSONAL STRATEGY!

My goal is to build up enough cash flow to cover the gap between the time I decide to hang it up until I can access my retirement funds.

I'd like to buy and hold and try and build up enough passive income to eventually quit my day job as an attorney (isn't this everyone's goal?!) 

I’d recommend doing your business checking with a smaller bank/credit union to build up a relationship with them.

Do people mostly rely on appreciation and flipping to build up to bigger properties? 

I need to build up some cash reserves and I am still reading and doing some homework. 

Either way, you will build up the equity in the house sooner or later, creating your portfolio.