The way you get to that state is 80-90% lifestyle and 10-20% income. 

I can't imagine leaving CA because of all the lifestyle benefits it brings me, so I just make the expenses work.

I'm in a medium expensive market with a family and I 'househack'Not all househacks involve having a roommate or bachelor lifestyle in some plex. 

Pay check to pay check life style is a choice. 

I didn't pay the Judge more for his house because he was highly educated and I didnt pay less to the couple who had a internet porn studio in their house because of their lifestyle.

I have a life and lifestyle that I'd never had achieved from my corporate job (and a net worth multiple times theirs because I took risks and received rewards not available in most corporate worlds). 

@Jay HinrichsPoint well made: you can sweat the cheap property if you are hands-on with booths on ground..no matter how much success you make out of it, its just a "job".... unfortunately, I am not in RE for a job..If its not passive and gives me time to live the lifestyle I choose, then its just any other job...Thanks for your  usual deep insights!

Approach it in a manner that is helping them downgrade their lifestyle and live within their reduced means.  

I love it and it fits well with my lifestyle and I like the fact I can run my business any where in the world, automate it, scale it and keep growing my passive income in real estate without the typical headaches of rentals, etc.  

I could buy 3 lambos or Ferraris with what I spent on that money pit... but I love to fly  and RE affords me the lifestyle I desesrve...