Once you've achieved that added value, you can take that to a bank and do a cash out refi which will return a substantial portion of your investor's capital.It's the value add leveraged by the power of the cap rate that really makes you your money.

You can leverage your time to work on SEO - but in DMM - you're capped by your financials. 

Credit card points and rewards are a tax on lower-middle America who can't get their ish together.I take full advantage of it with zero credit card debt of my own, and churn through cards like tic-tacs with a 800+ credit score that I leverage like a beast.I get funny looks from my lenders though when they see about 50 fully paid but closed credit card accounts, but when I explain it to them they're like okay whatever...a little weird but he pays his bills.I've been doing it for close to 13 years now.

I would think while rates are still historically low, you want to leverage while you can and save your cash.

It may be enough leverage for you to get a lower price.

And then go get some education.

As @Todd Dexheimer mentioned educating yourself is key.

PLEASE educate me, I do not want to make a rookie move, but I am having a hard time wrapping my head why borrowing money (and paying all that interest) is better investment than cash sale.

The rule doesn't help the person of more modest means who educates themselves and is fully capable of making their own investment decisions.

I have equity in a San Diego property I’d like to leverage in a 1031 exchange to a multi-family in Nashville.I have not yet found the right deal on the multi-family in Nashville.