You have 22 properties that are probably at least 60 years old. 15% maintenance of $1000 rent does not get you very far when you start looking at big-ticket items like roofs, windows, plumbing, HVAC, driveway, tree-removal etc.I am doing this long enough here in Milwaukee that I own some properties I have rehabed twice.

Coffee shops, fast food, subscriptions, even consider what groceries you buy. 

Once your income is stabilized, you can do a refinance to remove your coborrower back off of the conventional loan. 

As soon as a tenant fails to pay rent, you can file a complaint without waiting 30 days or issuing a separate notice (unless your lease requires one).That being said, it could be a waste of time/fees to run to court because tenants in NJ may come even on rent (even after you win the eviction case) and then they won't be evicted: “The tenant shall have three business days after service of the warrant for removal to pay all rent due.”

Removing the emotion is a skill that is learned and gets easier over time.

My sacrifice… no haircuts and no fast food. 1 job full time, 1 full time side hustle. 0 debt at the time other than student loans.

A wrap does NOT remove the risk of a due on sale clause being exercised by the 1st position lender. 

They have no way to force removal, other than to pay off the loan on a home they no longer own. 

@Adedayo Adetunji people that break into a property & occupy it are called "squatters".On September 24, 2014, three new Michigan Statutes went into effect to make squatting a crime and give landlords more options to remove them (see Michigan HB 5069/PA223, HB 5070/PA224, HB 5071/PA225).

Have a garden for food or flowers.