You want this to be truly self-sustaining, yes?

I was able to live for free, sustain a similar lifestyle (living with college roommates right out of college) and learn the invaluable experience of communicating and living with my tenants. 3.

The "Story" of the tenant is important, but I feel it is much more sustainable to simple boil the application down to numbers.

Repurposing underutilized structures is more environmentally sustainable than demolition.

@Alecia Loveless Your response resonated with me and my wife as we target similar numbers.

Or maybe better put, a sustainable portfolio.  

@Don Konipol When you mentioned "capital preservation" it resonated when me.

There is the constant stream of new immigrants as well who are finding it extremely difficult to sustain themselves here after their savings have dried up.

Often the metrics are a property becomes self sustaining at 180 unit's.

Also practically, building  a sustainable active income through the sales business will get very far.