On the other hand, leverage could allow me to acquire multiple properties faster.Considering my circumstances (unknown target market, family support in Fort Wayne, long-term goals), what approach would you recommend?

Specifically, my question is whether you can acquire a short-term rental, then immediately turn around and use the income from it to qualify to purchase another property.

And these 12 houses didn’t cost me a penny out of pocket to acquire. 

That's as long as you can afford to acquire it in the first place.The question you should ask yourself is if you want section 8 in the first place.

Fundamentally the point I was trying to get across in my original post wasn’t about my due diligence, its that the cost of known and unknown repairs when you first acquire a REI is way higher than people seem to anticipate.The way my tax person explained it is the 25K limit you’re talking about is the limit to losses you can claim per property per year, I haven’t hit that for any property individually so it works out.

We’ve since acquired another rental and are looking to expand our portfolio.

I am currently looking at acquiring an 18 unit apartment building.

However, with a 5% down conventional loan, there isn't a strict limit on the number of properties you can acquire, as long as you meet the lender's criteria.One strategy I've seen work well is using the FHA loan to buy your first multi-unit property, live in one unit, and rent out the others.

I'm interviewing property managers for a recently acquired fourplex in Tacoma and was referred to Mynd property management.

Here’s the plan I’ve come up with, and I’d love to hear your thoughts on its feasibility, potential risks, and any improvements you might suggest.The Plan1.Pay Off Mortgage: I currently have $170K left on my mortgage, and my goal is to aggressively pay it off in the next 1.5 years.2.Establish Emergency Fund: Before making any big moves, I’ll set aside 6-12 months’ worth of expenses as an emergency fund.3.Extract Equity: Once the mortgage is paid off, I’ll pull out the equity from the property.4.First Flip: Using the extracted equity, I’ll purchase another house, fix it up, and sell it for a profit.5.Reinvest Flip Profits: Instead of buying another property immediately, I’ll use the profits from the flip to renovate the original property, aiming to increase its rental income and appraisal value.6.Reappraise and Extract Equity Again: After renovating, I’ll get the original property reappraised and extract additional equity based on its increased value.7.Purchase Rental Properties: With the additional equity, I’ll start purchasing rental properties that offer positive cash flow and have growth potential.8.Leverage Equity Strategically: I’ll use equity from the original property and any new properties while maintaining a healthy loan-to-value ratio (LTV), ideally around 70-75%.9.Build Rental Portfolio: I’ll focus on acquiring a mix of property types (e.g., single-family homes, multi-family units) to diversify my investments.10.Focus on Cash Flow: I’ll prioritize properties that generate consistent positive cash flow, ensuring that rental income covers all expenses, including mortgage payments, maintenance, and management fees.11.Long-Term Hold: I’ll hold properties long-term to benefit from appreciation and tax advantages.