and the amount of swapping assignments etc with no title insurance has always struck me as somewhat risky.

RE investors need to learn about 1031 swaps as tool to avoid paying tax on capital gains on properties when they are sold.  

That is the beauty of real estate is you can swap properties for new ones when ever you want. 

Ever since I started, I have always known people in the game so that we can swap stories, warn each other of contractors, SHARE IDEAS. 

If you have a friend that works for a trash service, you're set for life.Also get on your local swap & shop web site - people get rid of furniture for very little money.

They told me to swap out the recessed lighting myself to save money, which I did and I really like the new LEDs.

Sounds like you need the room.Research tankless while learning how to swap/repair/maintain your own w/h's.  

So they might zip up to eight properties relatively fast, and then through a combination of selling the bad ones, 1031 exchanges, etc, there might be easily 5 acquisitions until at the Fannie cap because someone is swapping out condos for duplexes, duplexes for fourplexes, etc.Or one has appreciated a zillion percent, and they do a cash out refinance that pays off another one entirely -- same total debt, same total P&I payment, same total portfolio cashflow, but one fewer financed property, freeing up a slot.

I certainly will not use them again after this and will probably swap my tenant over to another payment process in a month or so.

For example, before the end of the year, get new glasses or contacts, or see if you can squeeze in expensive dental work such as an implant.If you are considering a like-kind swap of other types of property (Not Real Property), do so before year-end.If you've been thinking of entertaining clients and business associates, do so before year-end.