We are mainly focused on cash-flowing properties, with potential market appreciations being just a bonus to us. 

The appreciation would be a bonus. 

REI is a great thing and being in Utah is a bonus because there are a bunch of people to learn from in this area that have been in the game for many years.

I learned great lessons out there bumbling around on my own but would have loved to have been able to avoid many mistakes learning from the generous BP masters on here!

Business Analyst, Pharmacy Technician, Bricklayer) get paid by the hour/year, and get no bonuses for their extra success at their role.My suggestion at this point is to find money that can buy rentals.

I saw there were some strategies like Refinancing more than once as long as you can get a smaller interest rate and there are some companies that will provide a Cash bonus for signing up!

Plus you are local and more familiar to the area so that is an added bonus. 

ANYTHING we got in rent was a bonus.

If the bank was paying you 2% on your deposit and you could borrow at 2%, then whatever you do with the borrowed money is a bonus.

I have talked to a couple of local credit unions and either I got connected with the wrong person or they are not very generous on what they are willing to provide as each of them were not quoting very favorable terms.