You can pour an additional $100k into the property's principle in year 1 but that equity won't do you any good unless you refi, sell, or take out a HELOC (i.e. your monthly payments will be unchanged)... make your money work while you do, invest elsewhere 

Just starting out I would listen to as many different podcast as I could with the objective of finding what I want my niche to be.

@Gabriel BenavidezJust pay more to the principle.

Out of principle, it doesn't seem right that you would owe an agent 6% for a buyer you found (also I'm assuming the buyer doesn't have a real estate agent?). 

I’ve found a few that are already tenant occupied and I only analyze them if I see that the 1% or greater principle applies.

You have to have an objective, formulate a plan, then execute. 

By keeping the rentals I also get principle pay-down ($525/month), appreciation (???) 

Account ClosedDon't fall for shiny object syndrome... that is buying many leads, new coaching or anything that is a product advertised towards agent.

But you'd likely have to overcome the objection of why they should let you in on the equity site and not just let you live onsite and perform those functions as a job...Time is money... and if you don't have money you should have the time.

Resist the urge to chase the shiny object.