When I first got into real estate investing I'd say about 4 years ago is when I joined bigger pockets and I would continuously read the success stories and wonder how these things were accumulating for these other investors and how they were able to scale.

It looks like you have been accumulating 8.75 properties per year.

Have them come to you because of non-financial reasons, like:1 - Getting a job transfer to your property's area, and not sure if the one year contract will be extended once the project they were transferred there for will still exist.2 - Wanting to try out a house before they buy3 - Having approvable credit, but no down payment, so they LO to buy time to accumulate the DP.4 - Can't get credit approval because job is new.5 - ...and many more.

Initially, optimizing appreciation may seem counterintuitive, but property values will rise faster than you can accumulate income in a rapidly appreciating market.

If you are seeking out asset accumulation and equity appreciation over the long term then there are certainly fortunes to be made.

For the average person who hasn't worked a lifetime and accumulated some assets, I'd follow Ramsey's advice.

To house people and make a profit at it.To accumulate net worth in multi-family assets.To live a comfortable life.To have fun.To help others (in this business) if I can--a rising tide raises all boats.

I have much easier access to money now, but I also have a ton of respect for that and I will never ever abuse it.I will also say that, in spite of not doing a ton of deals, I have accumulated a significant amount of wealth.  

I've accumulated quite a few rentals in the city I live in, and the focus has always been cash flow, but I'm considering purchasing my first "vacation rental". 

Monthly auto deposit.My thinking is if I can invest and accumulate enough money for when the kids need to go to school, the repetition of saving will have created other income in other places and we won't even need the 529 plan to send them to college.Frank