Over the years I picked business degrees, real estate license, tax preparation training, loan officer licensing and training, investment / CFP training and it is all tied together in one big connected body of knowledge that emphasizes appreciation, debt pay down, cash flow, and tax write-offs...  

And they are easier to get than a conventional loan also. 3A)There is a lack of 'traditional tax benefits' to a large degree when investing with a retirement account as far as saving on your yearly taxes.

Of course, you can't protect yourself completely, but this will also help you prepare for buying the next properties a little better, and it's an exercise I generally do when I'm on a showing for a property I'm serious about so that I'm factoring this into my analysis to some degree in a "capex" reserve.Capital ExpenseRoofWater Heater x2All AppliancesDriveway/Parking LotBoiler x2FlooringPlumbingWindowsPaintCabinets/CountersStructure (foundation, framing)Components (garage door, etc.)

You'd be surprised how many folks close to you are interested in RE OR are already involved in RE to some degree. 

Even if you do fix something up, you can't force appreciation to the degree that we've seen in the past 2-3 years.

That ship sailed a long time ago, we are living off "credit cards" now to a really significant degree.

Would love infinite money) but cash-flow to the degree my wife can work if and when she wants to is good enough for me for now.

@Andrew Steffens what draws vacationers to Tampa when it’s 90 degrees June-Sept.?

But you are effectively putting yourself into more debtThere is good debt, and bad debtStudent loans are IMO bad debt - yes you get a degree that gives you a good paying job, but it costs you money every month to hold that debtReal Estate debt if used properly can be good debt.

Absent massive government intervention, normal innovation and globalism keep inflation low (i.e., the 40 years prior to 2022).