Without it,  it is a good way to loose a friendship.Welcome to BP-

We may loose on some rent if it takes too long but I think we were a little high on the rent anyway.  

I would love to find a mentor/friend to bounce ideas off, I am so ready to find my first property because win or loose it will be a win just to get my feet wet.  

You could buy a 12 CAP and loose money all day long, and you could buy a 6 CAP and win big.  

I believe we are loosing a ton of money based on our current pace.

Or am I bound by some else's lease?

Ask any questions you may have and someone is bound to have the answer for you. 

During the renovation, one of my tenants claims she tripped and broke her hip on some loose gravel that was displaced by the contractor's scaffolding and was on the walkway.  

Since there is less profit that is less margin for you to mess up and not end up loosing money.

But, my ideas and knowledge of real estate as a whole is bound to grow without limitation, and maybe my goals will change someday.Compared to many of our friends, we are way ahead of the game in terms of saving, investing, and achieving our financial freedom.