If you're not tied to Amex, and want to maximize individual categories then something like the Altitude Go card from USBank is decent with 200 bonus, and 4x points at restaurants and a $15 annual streaming credit.Chase Freedom Flex is 200 bonus and a rotating 5x category that changes every 3 months (capped at 1500 spend per quarter), and a 5x on travel stuff purchased through the chase travel portal. 

Find a second and maybe even a third stream of income that will get you over the hump and help you achieve your financial objectives

It's probably terrible, and it's a complete stream-of-consciousness type post.

(that and getting a continuous stream of motivated seller leads... unless you are me of course).

That way I still have an income stream to pay into it in the bad times.

Multiple streams of income.

Yes honeybunz, YES there is.There is a BEST way to market for leads in a cost effective way.Get a website, rank it first on google and watch the leads stream in for free while you ....

I would like to see alternative and sustainable design and build included more in the main stream,  ie: Prefabricated strawbale panels, hempcrete, recycled building materials ect.

The article:  http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/08/nyregion/stream-...

I also will not hold onto every property long term some will get exchanged (1031), some might be sold outright when it makes sense.The intent is to have a good income stream that insures that my wife and I are will provided for in retirement.