So I am clearly getting started a little later in life.  

I want to have more time with my family and give my kids the life I never had.

I'm entering this with the idea to become financially independent and have a healthy work life balance one day. 

Once the property is under contract I have it inspected to determine the current condition and life expectancy of all major components and appliances.  

They'll run you $4k plus a piece and shorten your life 1 year each time in stress and aggravation.To keep a high equity target off my back like you mention, I use my generic-sounding mgt co s-corp to put mortgages on my free and clear houses. 

I did my first deal as a "life Hack" at the beginning of last year. 

Dennis joined KREIA and it changed his life.

My job doesn't have the best work/life balance and it's something we're hoping to change using the power of real estate.My wonderful partner and I want to focus primarily on multi-family dwelling rentals using a buy and hold strategy. 

I like to think of it in terms of leveraging your money and where that money is best spent.  15-20 years of life span on asphalt and let your tenants pay for it over time or pay upfront and let someone else inherit the savings long after your gone.

At this point in my uncle's life, with a VERY ill wife, etc, he does not want to own the property anymore and has offered to finance it for me so I can renovate or build a new house to sell.