That interest pays to me so I don’t have to give up extra interest money to the mortgage company and my 401k is pretty solid for my age.

For example, do you need a permit to swap out windows (lead renovation EPA requirements for the age of home or do you need tempered or fall protection) all the way to a city that has $3,000 permit fees. 

Gets deeper from there, but that's the high-level.My goals included being work-optional well before the traditional retirement ages tied to retirement accounts, so therefore the places I put my money needed to afford more flexibility. 

I am at retirement age and I am now selling my multi-unit properties with seller financing, I look forward to a monthly check without the calls.   

Over-leveraging is exactly how Dave Ramsey went from $4 million to bankruptcy at the age of 28.

Its the age old adage that you make money when you buy.  

I also know that people are hesitant to buy property because of the aging population of Japan.

also what would you have done differently if you were my age .

Our educational system anymore, it’s no shock that most people under a certain age have no ability for rational thinking.  

Smokers are not considered a "protected class" (ie: race/gender/age/etc).The lease the tenant signed prior to us acquiring the property says nothing about smoking either way.