You could also do some small development like a DADU build + condoization to multiply that tax-free money.

Most important thing to me is learning about real estate and how to build wealth through real estate

I've discovered that most private lenders prefer borrowers with some experience, which I'm working on building now.My main focus is on my exit strategy.

Agreed, if you're handy and can fix most things yourself OR have a good relationship with a General Contractor that's going to work with you on repairing the property. 

Self-Management:Pros: Saves money, offers control, and builds tenant relationships.Cons: Time-consuming, stressful, and needs expertise.Hiring a Property Manager:Pros: Saves time, provides professional expertise, and market insights.Cons: Costs money, less control, and finding a good manager can be tough.What about you?

I have a huge passion for fixing up properties in distressed neighborhoods to help the exact problem you are preaching about.In my opinion, we need more incentives to fix up these properties rather than build new ones.

I had a GC build it turn key and it went under contract before it was completed.

What developers used to be able to build 2 units on a 25x100 they can now build 3, allowing them to offer more for 25x100 lots and profit more off these builds.

i cover pest control and lawn care on my stuff. keeps down on issues and i know the place looks good. for my student rentals i also build in a quarterly cleaning fee where my cleaning lady comes through and does a deep clean. extra eyes on stuff and parents happily pay it to ensure their kids have a solid spot. pass through cost for me and well worth it. 

Build equity over time and take advantage of tax write offs and appreciation. 3-400 a month on a 70k investment is a 5-6% cash on cash return - you can get that in a high yield savings right now, and, that's objectively a lot of cash to shell out.