A mix of both can be powerful depending on your goals.

I'm currently with an investment brokerage but my end goal is to be an investor and feel the big shoes my parents are leaving me with! 

Columbus is growing fast in population growth, job growth, and companies moving and developing here (Intel, Amazon, FB, Google, Honda, Microsoft, LG, Anduril, etc. just to name a few).

A couple tips--Always best to house hack small multis when you are moving around from base to base. 

Would it make more sense to move the money we make from selling to a different property that could potentially increase our cash flow? 

If you approach the conversation by first finding out their goals, then you can back into a strategy that will work for the both of you.

If losses strain your finances, selling might be the best move, but optimizing rental income or tax deductions could make holding worthwhile.This post does not create a CPA-Client relationship.

The two common ways to get rents up is 1) to move qualified family into the unit for a year 2) perform and extensive rehab such that tenant occupancy is not possible. 

Once you're ready, create a goal (e.g., "I will buy at least one single-family home, duplex, triplex, or fourplex before the end of 2019") and then do it.

My goal is to help my clients (and myself) make smart, practical decisions that balance cash flow, scalability, and risk which is crucial I know real estata is risky I have raised over 20 million dollars in Business Funding over last 3 years.