I second all that has been said above - all of those folks referenced have been really helpful to me and have added lots of value to so many BP community members, especially in our local marketplace.

Went on to purchase additional rentals so tenants can pay down the loan and I build equity How did you find this deal and how did you negotiate it?

No need to pay big bucks for this. 

A few things to consider:Utilities: Do you know if seperate gas/electric meters exist and who pays for the water?

He will take anything of value, leave all the trash, and not pay you a dime.

Got an equity line of credit and borrowed from it to pay cash for the property.

Minimum of 3 night stays, limited number of STRs in a particular neighborhood etc.You need to get the license and pay the STR tax.

I purchased my first SFH (3 bed, 2 bath) and currently have a tenant paying $850. 

This seems unlikely in the long run. you are forgetting that someone is paying down your principal for you so you need to take that into consideration. 

Hire a college students/or architect from other countries who can do 3d rendering at a very affordable rate (I pay $200 for 4 first time super realistic 3D renderings of the exterior, repeats are even cheaper) and do a number of elevation studies before you down select your exterior paint and finishes.