This means you never actually escape "the rate race". 

Either way, I'm really excited to start this journey and hope that this can lead me to financial freedom and out of the rat race one day!

@Jason SchatzFor want of a nail the shoe was lost.For want of a shoe the horse was lost.For want of a horse the rider was lost.For want of a rider the message was lost.For want of a message the battle was lost.For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.Set your system to not accept partial if possible.

Your property manager is full of what comes out of the south end of a horse going north in terms of entering a rental property to address a repair issue. 

You also had to complete how many years of college, what race you are, if you have any dependents on your tax returns.....and all of those questions have no bearing on an investment property renovation loan.  

Well, financing as we know it hasn't been around forever Dion, only about 700 years, but it's not a stretch to go back over 2000 for cash sales, if you include goats, horses, chickens, daughters and such with agreements not to attack or go to war.

HOWEVER it is a work horse...

The down side is that if you're in a hurry to get out of the rat race by building up a significant cash flow, the paid-off rental business is slow (unless you're already a multi-millionaire and can pay cash).Since you asked for opinions, here's mine (and worth every penny you paid for it).

Please tell me the name of one agent, either listing or buyer that has ever told their client why a similar home sold at a higher price or lower price other then "well I ran some comps and watch a show on HGTV" Can't make a smart choice if you don't know all the details, it's like betting on a horse you never seen race before because some expert said it's a sure thing.

As, I learning more about REI I became consumed with getting out of the rat race and no longer doing RE for customers, but just managing my portfolio.