It can be a meaningful difference because it enables me to write off $25K in rental loss per year AFTER I have reached the higher tax bracket.  

As of November 9, about one month after the 90 day challenge podcast, I was able to close on a 4 unit apartment that would double my cash flow, enable me to value-add equity to the property, and BRRRR out my money into the minor updates this spring.

I like value add where stabilized cap rate to cost is really high so more room for profit on the sale or refi.You have to decide what type of passive investor you will be also.Stabilized properties already generally day 1 the investor on a syndicate deal is getting a return but upside tends to be less on sale or refi as most value is extracted out.

Obviously my career has enabled me to purchase some real estate on the side.

If the whole property, PLUS rehab costs are being bought with all hard money, then where is your equity that will enable you to find 'proper' lenders later?  

Realtors and contractors are promoting the slumlord experience, eg never investing in the property, and extracting every bit of blood out of the house you possibly can etc.This works well in the short term, but when it's time to dispose of the asset, people will look at your manky horrible windows and knock you for them.But then replacement won't be $6k by that time, they'll be $10k, and the buyer will knock you $15k on the price - because they can.Don't fall into the trap "it's just a rental".

These provide a neutral venue and tend to attract those that are serious about lending their money, enabling you to avoid others with cold-feet at the last minute.Rates are obviously important, no doubt.

I currently work full time as a software engineer and my goal is to use real estate to enable me to quit the rat race within 10 years. 

., repairs, property management, insurance, etc. need to be paid out of the Roth IRA, meaning you need to have liquid funds set aside for these expenses3) As rents accrue, it may be hard to re-invest relatively small amounts in your Roth IRA since most custodians won't enable purchase of market-based securities.4) It needs to be totally passive, which means you can't work on the property yourself.

If rents don't keep up with inflation, your financial independence will be short-lived.Persistent: Your rental income will last a long time, ensuring that you do not outlive your income.Reliable: You can depend on a steady stream of income each month, even during tough economic times.I will cover each of these three requirements necessary for lifelong financial freedom.Rents Outpace InflationIn real estate, prices and rents are determined by the imbalance between the number of buyers and sellers.When there are more sellers than buyers, prices decline until there is a rough balance between the number of buyers and sellers.When the number of buyers roughly equals the number of sellers, prices are static or increase at a slow rate.When the number of buyers greatly exceeds the number of sellers, prices increase rapidly.Rents follow prices.Higher prices reduce the number of people who can purchase, increasing demand for rental properties and increasing rents.Lower prices enable more people to purchase, decreasing demand for rental properties and decreasing rents.The only market condition where prices (and rents) keep pace with inflation is one where buyers greatly exceeds the number of sellers.