RE investing is a relatively new dream as I was taught in my formative years to work hard for the “man” and max out your 401k to reach financial independence while my husband was raised in a more real estate minded family, so we make a good mix.

It is hard to answer without knowing more about you, your experience and your financial resources. 

It sounds corny to me For me I chose freedom first rentals , not because Of any deep meaning ..but because my financial freedom comes “ first” before the tenants !

Marc asked for advice, and if he chooses to take an interpretation of the law that is contrary to public view and hurts him financially, that is entirely his prerogative. 

I used Guidant Financial to set mine up, I don't think they offer that as a product any longer. 

Financial suicide ( in my opinion).

Hard to really get into this without any specific details related to the financials regarding each house, but I’d start here...If you need some liquidity, I’d run the cap rates on all my rentals and identify the bottom 3 producing rentals.

Only financials is "it cash flows".

I don't have a financial model or anything like that, it's just taking the time to do the research, analyzing all the inputs and deciding if something is worth the risk.I absolutely HATE debt. 

I am in Northern California (South Bay area) and looking at buy/hold investments for passive income (and moving towards financial freedom).