That's just not normal, nor is it sustainable.

Sustainable expense cutting can cut hundreds of thousands of dollars off the amount you need to save and invest for financial independence.   

If you need the money to sustain then the money from buy and hold is slow, it is long term play, so you would then probably want to rehab.

To be sustainable in any market. 

I don't know which ones they are, but rapid appreciation/cost rising without commensurate wage increases (or rabid influx of outside money) won't be sustained indefinitely without a correction. 

But, if part of your idea is for each property to be self sustaining, this might be something to consider.3) Why did you use $180K in cash to outright pay off the 2nd rental in full?

I'm not old enough to say if my plan is sustainable, but I automatically move a set amount of money out of my checking account every month into an investing account.  

I plan to invest full-time, since I don't have a need to work, and am open to strategies but resonate best with flipping since the idea of being tied to a property long-term by being a landlord isn't as appealing. 

My goal for the future would be to own enough rental homes to sustain myself.

check this tax record before you make an offer also go to Norfolk air and check code violations as well to see if it is in a rental inspection zone all before you offer to purchase.You may need some leverage to get the price resonable before you take on all the problems.