When markets get saturated or demand drops, condo's tend to race to the bottom in terms of pricing to stay booked.

That should be step #1.Regarding your goal of $5M by 30... you are not racing anybody else.

The walk in basement is good enough for lawn mower storage. 

Also, being chained to the rat race (job) and not being able to have the choice to manage my own time was frustrating.

I know what you mean about the so-called "rat race."

I have only been working for 1 year but I want to educate myself in real estate investment to escape the rat race.

Lawn was mowed... lawn mower was left behind for me.  

Many people before us have used RE to escape the "rat race".

I am looking to rent a place, it seems nice except three thingsthey are ranch style apartments. they have a gate in front of the main entrance, and you're responsible for the door if anything happens to it. for some reason they won't fix it. it actually looks like this but a wooden door in front of the main doorif i take the door down, how concerned should I be about people stealing stuff. if i had a lawn mower or something, they would have to come in the opening and take stuffi saw a report online about some guy that was looking in someones windows at the complex across the street. i dont know how long ago it was. i was looking online again but coudlnt find it. the one im staying at seems fine, how concerned should I be able the ones across from me?

Slow and steady wins the race.... or fast and steady... either way you have to get started.