That is not sustainable.

My timing was off so I now want to get back to my roots, buying and renovating apartment buildings for a sustainable NOI and good Cap rates. 

I gave myself a set salary, kept minimum reserves, and let the company start financially sustaining itself.The company cashflowed, property values significantly rose (along with rents), and I recently purchased my third SFH with no mortgage.

At the moment, I am only sustaining my real estate.

The only way I can sustain a competitive business that is insured, bonded and licensed with foreclosure/investor grade work is volume.

Your 12-16K nest egg might not be enough to sustain you in the first few years.

It might seem difficult but it sure provides sustainability and is perfect for those who aren’t looking to get rich quick but to instead create wealth.I know the longer you wait, the more you feel like you’re missing the boat—but rest assured, you don’t have to be in now to make profits later.

The PM side of the business is a huge focus for me and a very sustainable long term business that can have other spin off businesses.  

Cheap shortcuts are not sustainable, nor will they do much to help your credibility which is absolutely critical in this business.The first thing you should do, if you haven't done so already is to build a Twitter account, Facebook and LinkedIn page.  

Do I have to wait a couple years so I can demonstrate more clearly that I do indeed have a sustainable business model, or does having continuous income whether it's from my own income or from a regular W-2 job count?