If you have the time and want to take a more hands-on approach, I’d recommend looking into the BRRRR strategy or flipping properties.

I recommend to not take on hard money loans and investing with others who can also invest when it will not necessarily (totally) hurt them or me in the end is a hard lesson to learn but it is a great recommendation.

Understand the fees involved and calculate the total cost for an entire year of management so you can compare the different managers.

It seems like you enjoy being active and using your hands so maybe the BRRRR method (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat) is your best bet as you could save some money and do plenty on your own, you could also do a live in flip potentially and sell it or rent it out later.

If I make a lump sum payment of $10,000 towards the principal, the future monthly payments of $5000 should go a lot more towards the principal since there is less total balance to calculate the interest. 

That was valuable to me because I really did come close to sealing several deals, however, this is where being a total newbie affects you.  

By 1985, I had several MFs with mortgages totally $300K at 13.5% interest. 

I am not buying it, I think how we do our math is totally different. 

Admit that you are a total flake and you are lying to con people into pretending like your BS program is actually good. 

The goal is to get my own GC license but in AZ you need 4 years of experience (hands on or managerial) to even apply.