Reasonable rates at 10-years plus duration and 60% LTV, (very safe), but the funds come from private individual sources and for that networking is imperative.Crack that nut and your off to the races.

Ok, I would still scale back a bit and relax, there's no race going on here.

That is putting the cart before the horse.

Well you said it, find the deal and the buyer that deal fits and if you are true to the numbers, you will be off to the races.

I love my day job, so I'm not trying to escape the "rat race" per se, but am building a real estate portfolio on the side - because it's fun, and who doesn't want financial independence?

I think i'm on episode 55 or 56 and each episode makes my mind race with ideas.  

Its in a cul de sac and have three families owning there and its a mixed race families.

Slowly getting burned and ready to move onto something else.Even though the business itself does not take up too much of my time as I am a huge fan of creating systems, it is quite stressful due to employee turnover and the never-ending race to have quality employees to service our customers.The way I see it I can keep churning on and start investing in RE on the side and keep the business and its cash flow until I see some money coming in from REI, or sell the business for $150-200K and use that money for funding more deals.I have read most Rich Dad Poor Dad books, The 4-hour workweek, The E-Myth Revisited and have listened to dozens of episodes of BP podcasts.

The entire world is in a race to zero and beyond as evidenced by the amount of paper trading at negative yields around the globe.  

Unless your bank has a great employee deal a broker is always your best option and a team member you will need in the future.You are young, investing and growing wealth is not a race and if you think it is you are about to have a rude awakening.