Depending on your time-horizon for quitting your job, you could probably acquire a good portfolio in 5-10 years by leveraging, and then start to focus on paying down the debts as you phase out of your corporate role.

Through the course of my research Kansas City has kept popping up as a solid market with growth on the horizon, so I'm curious to hear from apartment investors in the area who are seeing success.What areas should we be looking into vs. where should we avoid?

They have a close relationship with another company, Horizon Trust, that does self directed IRAs.

Prospects on the horizon are even better.  

Again, this will depend on your specific scenario, time horizons, exit strategy, teams, etc.

@Mark Kao - a fixed 3.75 and 4.25 is outstanding, wish I could get those numbers on some of the NOO properties I'm looking at right now.My opinion is that if the condo is paid off and you haven't had any bad experiences with the HOA, nor have any reason to believe a series of special assessments are on the horizon, then I'd do as others have suggested and pull maybe 50-75% equity out to expand your portfolio.

Not sure your aversion to a land contract its one of the absolute best ways to buy property hands down.. maybe you just don't understand it.But with a 30 to 40 year horizon you sure you don't want to buy something up in the Pac Nor west.you buy a 80 with 15 year old timber on it. and in 40 years you have 1 million or more in standing timber plus the land.

I have a long term horizon on the growth and investment income.  

Ask for the teams analysis (underwriting), watch how they do DD, line up lending and what type such as bridge, plan to renovate and timeframe, exit horizon and goals, etc.

While we're at it, I would not be so cavalier in assuming that inflation is on the horizon ... if anything, I'd say current signs are pointing towards deflation.