Look for properties that have excellent cash flow, and buy in bigger growing cities where the demand is increasing, so that you can maybe see some appreciation, but don't factor it into your calculations.  

@Erik SchofieldCongratulations on the growing family and for taking charge of your future!

Markets with growing populations and jobs and important to the long term return on your investment.

I might move my growing family in to this next one and just work on paying down a conventional loan until it can cash flow in to a rental prop but that is going to take time.

While handling the disposition of wholesale deals and growing a buyers list.

Grow Rice?

"owning the property free of debt" is opposite of investing, so if your goal is to invest, makes  lots of money, grow your portfolio, and be able to live with financial freedom, I encourage you that you leave as little equity in all of your investment property as possible.  

so I'm taking everything I can to pay down debt and I've pinched just about ever penny I can pinch.I'm currently thinking about getting certified to be a Real Estate Agent to grow more knowledge in the field and have branched myself into different areas trying to learn things that I think might be helpful.

I also like to pass on utilities to the tenants so the only expense that might grow would be insurance.Alternatively, I'm considering doing short term rental on two of the units and renting out one of the units to a family member who would help me turn over the two other units between bookings (they will keep the cleaning fee).

Growing market.