repeat until you have a house full of dust and a barely passable finish on the walls.

As I worked toward that goal, I realized I was still limiting myself to the bare minimum.

My DTI got to the point that I was barely qualifying for the last few loans.

I know telling the tenants we're taking over and increasing the rent an extra $300-400 a month won't be easy as they barely pay their rent now on time.

This post, 4 for Zillow, one for Roofstock, a YouTube video playing in the background that you're barely paying attention to until a keyword causes a Pavlovian reflex in your ear.Been there.

-The bar and grill is barely breaking even and the apartment is vacant.- The Fire escape in the back needs a complete overhaul. 

This option is more passive and nearly guaranteed but they also don't have to tell you where your money goes and they usually can lock your money in a deal for years so if you want control is not the best option. only lend what you are prepared to lose or have out for extended periods of time. if you are investing in someone new to real estate only give them the bare minimum and if their number changes finish that deal and don't lend to them again.

I think what Im hinting at here is how an influx in nice, new, high-end property will trickle down to the mid to lower end areas knowing that we likely won't see a large influx of population growth baring a surprise event. 

Unclear what the best exit strategy is, or whether I should think of it as cash flow and not worry about the fact that I will barely ever touch the principal?

@Brian Fiorillo it's a good question you ask, and while technically correct that 5+ is commercial and therefore cap rate comes into it, it's so barely over that cusp that other factors are viewed in account because it's so barely over that threshold and the principles of commercial do not really fully apply, so it's this graduation area of what factors are viewed and to what weight.