"The Millionaire Real Estate Agent" by Gary Keller teaches the same thing and is a good read.

For our flooded location luckily we had full coverage.  

Don't get me started on the national debt and the amount we pay in interest each year.

@Alex Hymanson  you should read the book...Storing Up Profits. 

@Chris Ke With $200K for a down payment and the ability to invest full-time, consider starting with a 4-plex or multiple single-family homes (SFHs) within a 5-hour drive of Los Angeles in areas like San Bernardino or Riverside.

I've also seen the extra space used to make a toy train set up for HO gage trains.  

You can certainly negotiate some closing costs from the seller on the buy side.

Read my book, Brandon's book, or Every Landlord's Legal Guide by NOLO and learn how to proactively manage your property well. 

I am about to settle on an established rent-by-the-room that is within the same few blocks. 

It's almost a full gut.