You are definitely in the right place to start your education and REI adventure!

That will allow you to A). make some mistakes with a lot more leeway than a newer investor starting now or have them work as investment properties at your basis where someone buying today would be cash flow negative or B) eventually sell or refinance the properties to raise the equity for higher return or larger scale investments.   

The house value today (June 2018) has appreciated by 65-70% as compared to when we bought the house in 2008.

I am closing on my first property today, a 4/2.5 SFR that is almost rent-ready as-is, and should cash flow reasonably well.My plan is to buy 1-2 more properties in Austin, then branch out into other areas of the country.

Financially I can retire today... Ive

I had a young tenant who didn’t pay on time once, and I was there the next day And I told him either you give me the cash today or I start the eviction process.

According to today’s guest, yes.

I think this is also the point @Thomas S. is trying to bring: live Education in RE is usually expensive.Godspeed!

@Jay HinrichsMost of the new MF construction in the Burgh these last few years has been out-of-state money chasing the elusive tech-educated Millennial who's gainfully employed but too stupid to buy a house.

I get your point and I appreciate you weighing in, but for the sake of my own continuing real estate education am I at least barking up the right tree?