I'm trying to supplement my income and hopefully reach financial independence with REI, and excited to get into my first property soon.

You, Vic, I think will see that as an independent lender the PML and HML lines get a little blurry. 

I am hoping to achieve financial independence and build a nice portfolio.

I am ecstatic to be in the beginning of my FIRE journey, and to use BRRRR real estate investing to reach my goal of financial independence.

I just purchased my first duplex in Independence MO both units are occupied.

I am not a contractor, but most bread and butter homes are pretty easy to estimate unless you get into structural or foundation issues.I have several great GC and handyman contacts as well as independents for cabinets, flooring, windows, roofs, paint etc if you plan to self manage the project.

@Paul BrownDo you have 100 w2 employees or 100 independent contractors that work with you in the moving business?

Real estate can get you to financial independence much faster in my experience.

Another factor to consider, is that independently from my personal investments, my brother and I are currently on our second flip.

And few people independently gave me an interesting and new (new to me but probably not new to everybody) thought:Is real estate the most expensive it has been but also the least expensive it will ever be?