My plan is to stockpile as much income as I can from 4-5 paid for rentals and eventually build enough cash to buy another rental.

(I've done the math--basically $840 from one job and $725 from another so about $1550 after taxes).I guess what I need is someone to kick me in the arse and prove to me why investing in real estate is better than just stock piling cash in the bank :P.

That means you're bringing in $1,400 net per year, which you should be stockpiling for a few years.Let's say you went UBER-conservative and raised each door only $10 per month every year (meaning, you only raise rent once a year, and only by $10 per month).At the end of the second year, you've made an extra $960. 

(You know who I'm talking about :wink: :wink: ) I fear this person has already started construction on an underground shelter to store a stockpile of guns before the weapons ban takes full effect.

If your real estate account is a growing cash stockpile, consider a high-yield savings account.

Not trying to be doom and gloom, but I've got some high quality toilet paper stockpiled in an undisclosed storage unit.

I would look into wholesaling contracts, and using that money you make to stockpile for larger investments for the future.

Unless you have a huge stockpile of cash, you will need the ability to leverage other people's money at some point

You definately do not need to own a home first before getting into real estate investing.I'd say overall, unless you have a job that produces tons of money and you have a hefty stock piling of cash, focus on areas that you can use to generate chunks of cash...either wholesaling or flipping. it will help you learn the market better, spot good deals, and who knows....maybe one of the great deals will strike your fancy enough to move into...all while you make chunks of cash in real estate.When the time is right....then you can get into some multiunits. 

I'm a contractor in SLC that is trying to stockpile funds/reserves for the next year.