Congrats on wanting to get started!

I am similar to @Benjamin Jones just getting started and looking how to set things up? 

I wouldn't start investing in the US if you have no plans on coming back from living in China.

My goal, over the next five years, is to utilize real estate in lieu of my current hourly consulting income, by building a portfolio of rentals.  

If you are passive in those rentals (not real estate professional for tax purposes which requires 750 hours of real estate), and your Modified Adjusted gross income is over $150,000, then the cost seg is not actually going to save you any taxes. 

I worked more hours than possibly anyone I knew.If you do not want to work hard, then value adds may not be the best path for you.  

., $300 for paint and supplies) and add a fair hourly rate for labor.

We are three hours away from the properties .

Hell, i've seen attorneys volley contracts back and fourth with each other for months on end arguing things like the meaning of the word "the" in "the contract".....All while racking up those $500/hour billable hours of course.Case and point, I won't change your outlook on the industry.

I had this exact conversation with a borrower just a few hours ago, and it surprised us both.