I figured I could watch TV while I row.

They didn't know their market and got conditioned to high numbers on TV or other markets and didn't realize that $180k is VERY expensive for many parts of our town.The danger is because our real estate is so affordable people are coming in from out of town seeing potential to increase rents...well, again, it depends on neighborhood.

A close friend of mine was in the same shoes as you.Before giving the middle finger to his corporate job he paid off all his credit cards, bought pre-paid gift cards for food, restaurants, movies, and other leisure items, he got his medical and dental checkups done while he was still on insurance, and reduced recurring expenses in order to live as lean as possible in start-up mode. 

I’m working towards a COMPLETE life of leisure through real estate investing.

Most often than not, the advice the financial gurus we see on TV give - sometimes don't work.

The impulse and question they have quickly subsides once they get off of the BP platform and they go back to their late night cocktail, TV show, or go to bed and forget they even filled out the form.

Listen, despite what people see on TV, real estate investing is tough.

Happened too many times for first 3-4 years.There is no risk of loosing the "deposit" either and it's just a bit of skin in the game even tho the skin is always yours to keep heheCovered all angles mate and made this as fool proof as possible but still enough to make folks "jump" through hoops to see who is legit and who isn't.As Chris mentioned, 90% of investors we don't end up working with and even when many commit to the deposit, I refund many times as I don't feel a good fit.Even with such stringent criteria, we still get mud thrown on us here on BP as some folks slip through the cracks.I could only imagine if we took on everyone and just focused on pushing sales.I can sell a TV to a blind man and ice to an eskimo.

Quote from @Glen Wiley:and for some people going from punching a keyboard and sipping Starbucks, to changing dirty sheets, cleaning other people's toilets, and putting up with all the customer service craziness is not as fun as it looks on TV.

You have TV shows showing realtors in their 20s, making hundreds of thousands in commissions.