Especially since I plan on using rental properties as my retirement strategy should I focus more o acquiring more rentals or just build a big retirement nest egg?

We are mainly focused on cash-flowing properties, with potential market appreciations being just a bonus to us. 

I commend you for staying focused and persistent in the light of adversity as evidenced by your intro.What I would do to start is to select a niche in real estate investing. 

I'm new to Bigger Pockets, I'm a real estate broker in San Diego, focused on residential property management and sales.

They are mostly focused on wholesaling and flipping if you are interested in that.  

If you have been there 6 months I would focus on trying to improve your future appraisal for refi.

As you've probably seen, there are a lot of great resources here including the excellent BP podcasts.I'd recommend that you pick one strategy or niche that appeals to you most and focus on that.

I'm predominantly focused in the $1000-1200 single family price point in better school districts.

I would suggest that if you are going to focus on better neighborhoods as James suggests, and I agree, and are buying turnkey that you consider going to a higher price range. 

For the past couple years I’ve been focusing on gaining as much Real Estate knowledge as I can while I financially prepare myself to start investing myself.