This will give you extra cash flow in the first year and/or the early years to maximize your tax benefits and make your dream come true.

@Alex Del Rio welcome and congrats on Real Estate Professional Status (REPS) this brings with it a lot of tax benefits that you didn't have access to before.

I continue to pad my social security contributions full-time with the hopes of maximizing my retirement benefits.

I think if you really want to gain exposure, start with lending or title work.

Either way for many people it's a good idea to own real estate inside of and outside of your retirement account to take advantage of the tax benefits personally.  

6.125% has P&I of $2625/month.5.75% has a P&I of $2521/monthThis is a $104 benefit.Paying $4400 more towards principle will reduce your payment to $2598, a $27/month savings.Math says buying the rate down has a larger net benefit to you up front, but it will take you 42 months to break even.

With the removal of the capital gains tax it seems like a "no brainer"!

HoldSelling when you leave simplifies things, but holding can provide long-term gains.

If you plan on selling other people's houses you can charge for that with a license.If you are only selling your own houses, there is no benefit...but there is substantially higher liability.

Is there a maximum amount of W2 income that will not benefit having a cost Seg completed?