This allows my portfolio to grow, keeps rents coming in, and keep my costs low.

You don't want to be so focused on getting into the game that you leverage the start of your entire life just to do it.

I'm presently a facilities engineer by trade, who does some construction and maintenance for landlords on the side, hoping to get back into the private real estate game.

Once you’ve made all of the rookie mistakes and have your SOPs in order, you can go invest out of state with a game plan.

Hello Evan, I have helped a number of Bigger Pockets investors build their portfolios in Syracuse and surrounding areas.

I feel a loss of direction and that makes it really hard for me to focus and build.Do we keep at building a portfolio of small multi family (very abundant in my market, very rare to find anything above a triplex for sale), with plans of selling the portfolio and 1031'ing into larger properties? 

Howdy, I have been in the game for about 10 years now and have mid seven figures of real estate assets. 

Please feel free to reach out to me and my team if you would like to come up with a game plan and build your buy box. 

I'm new to bigger pockets and more importantly I am new to the real estate game.

So you are averaging $2k/mo for rent across your portfolio?