This is a two-way interview, so have a short list of questions to ask the mentor (What books do you recommend I read to gain a better understanding?

Also that aggregate losses can exceed 25K over multiple years and carry forward indefinitely to protect future “passive” income.

If you have a portfolio of, say, five rentals in your 401k when you are in your sixties that produce $7,000-$10,000/mo in passive income (rental cash flow) - then you simply take the rental income as your RMD without touching the properties.

When you guys calculate ROI on a rental property do you typically include the equity gain from paying down your mortgage?

I do not want to discourage the passive investing sub forum (syndications), but I think improving search functionality would be more helpful to more of the users. 

I was passively absorbing the information. 

Your best best is roughly break even on most properties or maybe a small gain. 

There is a learning curve, but I'm sure you are gaining practical knowledge along the way.

During that time I gained a greater understanding of real estate and what was once a small interest became a very passionate pursuit. 

If an Accountant, a CPA or a tax preparer or anyone who is giving you this advice ...... ( I am not saying anything ).Here is another think - as you are flipping properties you do know that you are supposed to pay estimated Income Tax on your gains.