I may pay off my current house (6.625%), pay off half and buy 1-2 rentals or just refinance it and buy 3-4 rentalSI’m interested to see what you decide to do as wellJustin 

I've also avoided paying Capital Gains Tax on selling my crypto. 

For instance, let's say you purchase property in a city where rents rise by 2% per year, while inflation is at 5% per year.

I had to protect my bank whhile he went broke so I ended up paying for a few subs twice..

Second, if you want a nice house in a nice part of town, you will have to pay for it, so will likely need to raise your purchase price.Third, if you want to go off-market, just know you are trading a lot of time for the possibility of maybe finding a deal.  

My goal is to buy one rental per year with price between 150k-250k for the next ten years (if i get to keep my job). 

You will make more from loan pay down, yes you SHOULD have some appreciation.

A 50% LTV on a $120K house at 7%, 30 year Am results in a $400/mo interest payment.The cashflow on your existing duplex goes to $1,000 per month, but now you can buy another just like it so yoru cashflow goes to $2,000 per month.  

It also does NOT pay more than market rent.

I can pay some va's 400 to make 1,000 callls per week.