It's one of the best ways to get started and it's how I cut my teeth in real estate. 

I was very unhappy but the gnashing of teeth for 4 yrs of 5 proved financially beneficial. 

@Don Konipol  when i cut my teeth in Notes  that was the focus of our business  owner occ 80 10 and 10k seconds.. low balance 10 to 50k 5 points 15% seconds in the SF Bay Area. .

In that case I'd recommend that one of your 1031 purchases be a really drop dead gorgeous short term rental you wouldn't mind moving into in a year or two. 

My wife and I are active duty Air Force officers and eager to use our VA loans/sink our teeth into REI in the states, but it feels hard from this distance.However, I think there could be some unique benefits to adding someone 16 time zones away to an investment team.

@Leonard Weiner, Syndicates set up as TICs in full are like hen's teeth.

Weeping and gnashing of teeth  

Hello Tyler Stump, I am 72 year old and I would have given my eye teeth to have the opportunities you have when I graduated from Palo Alto High School in California at 17.

Gorgeous!  

The first leak when water was turned off I purchased her some drinking water and gallons so they could flush toilets, brush teeth.