They essentially work exactly the same as properties that you invest indirectly: if you depreciate they throw off losses in early years (especially if you accelerate depreciation in which case they can throw off more passive losses than they produce in income).

(great point) - I worked my *** off for so long that it's a skill I'm learning to slow down and smell the roses. haha.100% enjoying life includes learning, and to look behind the curtain a little bit and understand how some of these exotic real estate transactions are conducted  (exchanging property, accelerated depreciation on commercial buildings, 1031/financing until you die, subdividing, bank financing on the business cash flow, etc.. etc.. etc..) 

This is the ideal route because you will get a paycheck immediately and you'll accelerate your learning.

That gives you three rentals and will accelerate growth and learning.

The losses play a big part in helping to offset other income, which is a major reason real estate is so lucrative.Further, when investing in commercial real estate syndications, you have the opportunity to take advantage of cost segregation and accelerated depreciation, further increasing your tax benefits.Advantages of Investing in Real EstateWith each dollar invested in real estate, you have the opportunity to take advantage of cash flow, leverage, equity, appreciation, and tax benefits.

But prices won't accelerate at the levels we've seen in the last few years.

That's nothing new, either, but it has really accelerated.  

We have typical stock-based retirement accounts, but we're aiming to accelerate retirement by building a stable portfolio of buy and hold properties.

—At any time before the later of the filing of a certificate of sale by the clerk of the court or the time specified in the judgment, order, or decree of foreclosure, the mortgagor or the holder of any subordinate interest may cure the mortgagor’s indebtedness and prevent a foreclosure sale by paying the amount of moneys specified in the judgment, order, or decree of foreclosure, or if no judgment, order, or decree of foreclosure has been rendered, by tendering the performance due under the security agreement, including any amounts due because of the exercise of a right to accelerate, plus the reasonable expenses of proceeding to foreclosure incurred to the time of tender, including reasonable attorney’s fees of the creditor.

I want to do a mix of cash-flow and equity plays but the cash flow will help accelerate the rate I can buy properties so I am focusing there first.