Used wisely its a great tool to increase income and wealth, used unwisely it can take you backwards.The way I look at your situation is not from the point of view of having debt or being debt free but rather that while you have assets what happens to your stress level if you lose your steady source of income?

Including the freedom to pursue real estate investing and I'm making good progress thus far. 

Of course during that time, your mortgage payment was steady, while your rents increased.

As you get more experienced in the biz you will naturally progress into more complicated projects such as BRRRR & or fix / flip.

Our main focus right now is to get a steady chunk of cash flow going.

Hello @Nikkiah Wren,You are undoubtedly going through a tough time and it seems like things have been getting progressively worst. 

The enrollment of the school is steady and it seems close enough.

1) Cash Flow: unless the business plan calls for a major reposition... stable apartments provide steady cash flow from day 1!

Build your network and your knowledge base and it will make a lot of things progress more easily and quickly.

For me buy and hold has been a slow and steady process.