You will be playing the appreciation game for the next few years, however once rates drop again, you can refinance and be cash flowing too. 5 years down the road, the ones focusing on location will be the big winners. 

Decide which game you want to play.

Or, is this even more of a numbers game than I'm thinking and really need to call 10,000 leads to get one deal. 

Even if they charge you a few hundred or $1-$2K for a initial financial plan. 4) On a $5.5M portfolio, something like this would be very appealing to me personally, as a thought starter: - $1.25M home, car, and "toys", paid off- 250K in cash- $2M in stocks- $2M in paid off or lightly levered real estateThis is just me, and I'd personally view the name of the game as wealth preservation and maximizing enjoyment of life with this level of wealth, all liquid, all at once.

I've also heard about some upcoming innovations that will be game-changers.

I'd call it what it is, my tuition payment in this game to follow up on rent payments.

I own out of state as well, but it's a blocking and tackling, hands on, dirt in your fingernails game if you want to earn the return to make it worthwhile. 

Figured it was time to get in the game.  

Use anyone else REI Pro, Propstream, Deal machine before batch leads I have found.

@Michael Baum this is awsome, I am now even happier that I chose these LG machines.