A 200lb professional athlete is going to be more fit than an 200lb desk worker that eats fast food every meal. 

This changes nothing relative to value add, which is how you get rich.In this game, presuming you know what's going on, you can make your pie and you can eat it :)I think this'll make a decent post for the blog...

Then they will put down poison that the mice eat, scurry off, and die.

He still asks you for a small fee to make sure that you're a serious buyer and that you're gonna buy his offerings so he can get his fat commissions.

I have the cash flow in my budget to eat around $700 if need be, but this is not ideal because I am looking to scale.

Your number will grow exponentially, not linearly and your blind spots are expenses that you are too frugal to manage today but will eat at a higher price tomorrow.The goal should be to eliminate expenses via consolidation, have multiple sources of income, and carry low risk(debt). 

Car loans eating up a huge amount of income no. 

What you really build with rentals is equity - but also as you have discovered you can’t eat equity.

Check with the city on where they are install new sidewalks, outdoor eating areas, walking and biking areas.

With longer leases it might be worth it. all comes down to your investment style. eats into the cashflow but you are more protected.also, my situation is different due to mortgage cost. your one properties rent is 2.5 of my properties. my average mortgage is around 650.