That's a great plan, just you need to use other means to support your retirement life style before 60.

Through this site I hope to learn if my skill-sets are suited for this line of work, and if RE investing is compatible with my desired lifestyle.  

I couldn't live the lifestyle I currently live if I had not started investing in real estate.

Scrounged, leveraged, all of the above, now we're paying down debt and leveraging a life style because we're in it for the freedom too. 

Call this what it is:  A personal life-style choice. 

Obviously he now has a significantly higher net worth due to the lifestyle changes and sacrifices he made to get to this point.

The rents on the properties I own in the midwest will cover my properties and my lifestyle during most economic times.  

Of course there are always exceptions but those starting out often waste their time looking for the exceptions.I suggest to all those starting that they need to either start really small (wholesale) or change your life style live like a hermit for a few years and save every dime you can.

The lifestyle in Placencia is a laid back one, with very high end homes.

If I look at teh migration patterns over the last few years, Austin has been getting an influx of migrants from large cities from the coast and even within Texas due to the high cost of living or Austin having a more relaxed and family oriented life style ... or the tax savings :)