Yes, You can buy and asset, fix it up and rent it out to make money without you physically having to work for the money. 

Keep working, saving money, and buy the best asset that your budget allows.

I mean, I could try to just memorize the math..The tool is called Cashflow Analyzer Pro with Deal Instant Analyzer from Asset AFC.

Alternative Lenders – Look for private lenders or debt funds that focus on asset-based lending rather than borrower experience.

Knowing my situation, if my wife and I were doing something like this, I'd be OK with buying something sooner and cheaper, but my wife would prefer to wait a little longer to save more to buy something nicer.

This is what I love about this asset class.

Normally, my preference would be a Duplex for ease of learning, but after looking at the price point in a place like Cleveland, I theoretically could purchase two Single Family's there.

If you are rolling the funds into an appreciating asset that also cash flows, you can make far more money over time than what a retirement fund will do.

Quote from @Ronald Rohde: I think it just benefits current owners. our replacement cost variability just went up a lot for the next 4 years. 100%.All cyclical asset classes are reverting to the mean, except the one's with a material short-- naturally. 

What you can't do remote is get a sense for the neighborhood and asset quality.