Get the funds needed from a syndication, hire out every job, exit in 3 years and get your F.I.R.E. by age 18. 

Typically, do people who retire early just pay the penalty, is there a way around this, or are they using taxable accounts until they reach the typical retirement age?

Maybe Murphy's Oil soap all of the wood and leave it as is and see if it rents.I say that because you don't know what's behind that paneling (cost $$$)(40 layers of wallpaper, giant cracks in the lath and plaster, etc...) and from the pic it looks like a lot of cabinets (cost $$$) to replace.If it were mine and I decided to leave it as is, I'd probably do the kitchen floor in (period type) 12 x 12 squares and replace the carpet with dark LVP and see how much rent I could get for it.Probably a new Formica top and a new Dish Washer (just to avoid service calls on the old one) and Greige the wall color.Of course from the pics I can't tell the condition of the cabinets--but have have seen similar ones of that age in incredible shape.Good Luck!

In a city like Chicago with some age, the inventory of 1960s and later buildings are tougher in the city.  

If you are in the upstate, I would love to start like a meet up with individuals my age or older so, we can all have a support group ❤️Thanks, Kamille Tyson

If you are getting close to retirement age, I would not be inclined to leverage overly much. 

For example, 1 bedroom units tend to have higher vacancy than 3 bedroom units and higher end units tend to have less vacancy. additionally, CAPEX is on a sliding scale from 5% to 15% depending on the age and condition of the building.

I agree with @John Warren - do a CMA of other rentals in the area of similar size, square footage, age, etc.

I so wish I had Bigger Pockets when I was your age. 

New to investing in real estate and question that popped up in my mind was "Do we need to have a business card in today's age?"