@Lana Chenis focused on exactly the right metric.Given the risk and hassle of owning rentals, I would not be happy with anything less than double digit returns.

The storry starts teaching you about a three digit percentage of retourn a monney.

The city is exploding and the days on market are in the single digits!

With that, you are going to want double digit returns on your capital if you want to scale to be financially independent.

Most HELOC lenders use an AVM -an automated digital tool that you have no control to dispute.

All you need to do is connect with those that provide rentals to cash buyers, some will work with loan buyers, Double digit net caps are to be hadAll the best 

The income has given me a ton of freedom, and it sounds like that's what you're looking for.btw, I played poker professionally for about 5 years but I don't consider that gambling :-)

@Darrell DegraziaWe love Metro Detroit (my rental portfolio is here)The trick is to know what to buy and not be tempted by the ones you shouldn’t lol.Purchase: $80k-$130kRent: $1200-$1500ROI: 10-14%Cash flow: $250-$350/doorAppreciation: Double digit (for past 10 years, will gladly send data)Location: C+, B- (suburbs and certain markets)We have over a dozen Fortune 500 companies just in Metro Detroit with huge Healthcare, Auto, and mortgage industry National footprints.

@Joseph GaryWe love Metro Detroit (my entire rental portfolio is here)The ticket is just to know what to buy and not get tempted by the stuff you shouldn’t lol.Purchase: $80k-$130kRent: $1200-$1500ROI: 10-14%Cash flow: $250-$350/doorAppreciation: Double digit (for past 10 years, will gladly send data)Location: C+, B- (suburbs and certain markets)We have over a dozen Fortune 500 companies just in Metro Detroit with huge Healthcare, Auto, and mortgage industry National footprints.

I like to store everything digitally by property / folders.