Check those REIT's out, I think they're good deals for aspiring investors.On the other hand, if you are really determined, I would suggest not only networking with sponsors you find on here or online, but joining a mentoring group like Lifestyles Unlimited, as that way you can establish relationships with people doing deals, plus you can learn a lot about how multifamily real estate and syndications work.

. // Isi Nau's assessment is a good -- it's up to you, the lifestyle you're willing to do and your tax situation.

The nomadic lifestyle, tiny houses, minimalist lifestyle are also all factors that come into play 

Now that I don't have payments I will maintain the same lifestyle and put the rest away in the bank for my emergency fund/down payments.

If your goal is use leverage so you can live a better lifestyle then, I would reconsider.  

Where is the line between lifestyle inflation and just growing up/evolving?

When I started looking into it, I realized it was a good way to make money without an enormous investment in time/money (college), which is what I have been looking for.We didn't end up purchasing a property but the broker has agreed to be my mentor, and I sit down with him occasionally and talk about the industry, what I've learned in class, and also just BS because he also happens to be an interesting dude in general.We also have an old family friend ("uncle" when I was growing up) who does REI in San Antonio through Lifestyles Unlimited.

I was also able to show her that if we busted on our investment properties that it would not affect our current living situation or life style, we wold not have to file bankruptcy, we would not be down and out. 

I'm also curious to learn more about raw land investing, and of course, am entirely open to the experience of others and will likely change/modify this initial shell of a plan as I learn more and gain more experience.My goal with real estate, on a broad scope, is to build wealth via passive income in order to enable a lifestyle in which my wife and I can make traditional work optional and use our time to engage in meaningful projects and endeavors to help others in need around the world.Thank you again for building such an impressive community!

Having a quality property manager on our team helped make this a great hands-off investment that fit our family's lifestyle.