There are ways to meet your goals but as  @Dmitriy says it takes planning and people who know how.

What are your short term goals in real estate?

My overall goal is the same as most of you.

What worked for you, personally, not exaggerating and saying you started flat broke, but you were working a $100k job, like really start with nothing but persistence and a goal.

Hi Gabriel,Your current strategy of flip 2 rent 1 can achieve the investor's goals,  That is the strategy you know. 

@Davey DavanoskiYou don't really pay yourself.Flips are different, the profits go towards your income.Rental properties generate passive income, but if you're looking to retire from a day job it's not usually possible for the average person owning 1 or 2 properties.As an example let's say you have a target goal of $300 positive cash flow to consider an investment.

As mentioned in another post, our goal is to go from 8 to 20 properties this year. (20 by 20) it’s super aggressive and maybe far reaching, but we want to push as far forward as we can, and in my mind if you don’t push yourself outside your comfort zone you won’t reach your potential.But to answer your question, to get past the finance road block, we are continuing to educate ourselves and continuing to network until we find the right partners.

I’ve actually been “lurking” on the site for a few months while doing some more research and cementing my goals but figured it was time to make an introduction.

In addition, a home that is updated and clean is going to sell faster than one that needs work.

Obviously, investing in the coast of North Carolina is safer and will come back faster than the panhandle of Florida will!