I am active duty Navy and have about 2 years left till retirement. 

Also taking into account locations where future and realistic market tailwinds (e.i retiring baby boomers and foreign investors) lead.

You are definitely not bragging but showing to us; especially the military community, that it is possible to retire early from the military.

But what I understand is the following:- The southern areas are more for expats that want to retire.

Many of my deals are in my retirement funds, so holding period isn't as important as annualized return, ,but I generally set a 20% avg. annualized cash on cash return, including back end gains and/or refinancings, as my bogey for underwriting.

What's interesting is that every resupply mission or manned mission to the ISS, since the space shuttle was retired, has been via a Russian rocket.  

@Helen Zhang I'm a newbie to real estate, but I've done my homework on retirement accounts.

Now that same family member owns half a dozen houses of his own and is enjoying a much better retirement because of it.Point is, maybe you just need to "show" them how you can make money as opposed to "telling" them.Or, maybe help educate them on what exactly you want to do. 

:you can call around or post ads on CL for licensed people. they'd love to get the extra work after hrs.i pay $1k for a furnace swap, including the furnace. and no, i am not giving out the contact to anyone.I would definitely retire it.$1,000 is about right even for a Goodman Hi EFF. 

My plans is to retire in the next two years and get into flipping houses.