@Gary West I agree it is not a great idea to not invest to pay off all the debt.I may have misunderstood your plan but it seemed like you want to pay off the mortgages as fast as possible with no regard to the other debt.If you payoff debt payoff the expensive stuff first, and that is probably not the mortgages.If you want to not pay down any debt to accelerate acquisition that is different strategy, and one that might actually be the fastest way to reaching financial independence.

Unmarried, I would want a clear, detailed business partnership agreement in place reviewed by independent attorneys.

Also pay attention to the IC independent contractor agreement.

You guys's responses let me realize how danger it is to act independently when I am still lack of enough knowledge to represent myself.

I would think a consultant would be more independent, marketing services to the general public in certain areas of consultation.An architect or engineer would be a consultant.There are many areas of professional practice in real estate, accounting, economics, law, engineering, finance, marketing and management, enviornmental and physical sciences, geology, hydrology and more I'm sure.

I would like to sit down with him to express my motives to become financially independent but I'm afraid that it might hurt our relationship.

The rent payment and the mortgage payment should be completely independent of each other, financially, mentally and emotionally.

Where this overlaps with your question is that I've found that some independent special needs people have a work or life coach to help them keep on track with day to day things like paying rent and job performance.

Read Kipplinger and Money magazines and watch Squak Box.You can become independent like lots of grandmas have by being frugal and putting your money in CD's and not own stocks or RE.

Becoming financially independent by age 40 is easily achievable.I would be happy to give you some help.Chris