I'm currently a page designer for our newspaper, but I'm looking into real estate investment as a supplement to my income (better than just letting the markets handle my 401(k), I figure) and maybe a way to becoming my own boss one day.

These make great supplemental comps and may end of being what you use if the others you picked out visually bust out.After I have my list I try to make sure they have the same bedroom count, within 10% of the sf^2 and within 5 years of age of the subject. 

What clever things could I put on my bandit signs and business cards instead of the standard and generic "we buy houses"?

I got a package containing a manual, some supplemental books with links to Internet resources, an audio CD and the account/password to their private-access Website (deal submission online form and other resources, such as basic real estate contracts in PDF format).

Ultimately I would like to 1031 exchange for a nice-sized apartment complex somewhere to supplement my retirement income from the Navy by the time retirement hits in the next 15 years.

There are many reasons but just to list few - economy of scale (more scalable, all the expenses will spread over a larger amount of the units), financing you can get a commercial loan with many advantages (assumable, options for supplemental loans ..etc).

It's a generic answer but it truly depends on your local market.

I am working full time in San Diego and buying rentals now to supplement my retirement.

My in-laws own rental property in SoCal already (a cash flowing triplex in the San Gabriel Valley) and it would be ideal to follow in that same mould and have properties that are nearby.Our ultimate goal, for now, is to more or less supplement our income, not to replace it.

The advantage is that I can buy another house with cash (and own it - supplementing cash flow drastically).