If you acquire one new property each year, you could significantly increase your wealth and potentially position yourself to qualify for larger investments, like apartment buildings or construction loans, within 10 years.I’ve worked with clients who have successfully implemented this strategy, and it has proven to be an effective path to building long-term financial freedom through real estate.Good luck with your decision!

Much of it based on defense spending that will likely increase as assets are moved from Colorado to Alabama to include the Space Command HQ.

Perhaps if your partner was a general contractor or handyman type there may be some merit there to reduce costs / increase profitability.If your partner enjoys deal sourcing, a better move might be for him to become an agent - so he could legally collect commissions from finding deals and managing properties for multiple people. 

Quote from @Basit Siddiqi: I personally would not buy real estate with a retirement account.There are just too many headaches that are not worth the potential increased return.Some headaches when it comes to investing in real estate with a retirement account1) LTV values are less and harder to find lenders.2) Potential to sell or partially distibute the property if you have to do a RMD(Required Minimum Distribution)3) If you run out of cash and have to make a major repair, you may be out of luck and have to sell.4) Having to potentially worry about UBTI(Unrelated Business Taxable Income)I would personally invest in stocks/bonds/notes with a retirement account.I buy deals with cash and use a ROTH SDIRA so there are no RMD's.I buy at huge discounts to retail.

My estimation was with leverage I could do about 7 homes a year and each year after it would increase. 

For me, I could handle the increase in cost and still pay much less than If I got a 4/2 SF.

Quote from @Noah Wright: No, but here are some ways to increase ARV most dramatically:1.

When you pay cash for a $400,000 home and rent it out, your rate of return will likely be less than 6%.You could invest in stocks and earn 7% or better.You could put the money in a high-interest savings account and earn up to 5%.I don't understand why anyone would pay cash for real estate, erasing many benefits that increase the rate of return, while exposing themselves to the risk of loss (turnover costs, bad tenants, capex, etc.). 

Higher assets or cash in the bank increases what is called you compensating factors which banks/lenders use to qualify.

Borrower has the 3% loan in place for the duration, and 14% investor can be paid off with increased rent in say 18 months.