The alternative is to have even more equity so that there is more free cash flow (cash income to the investor after all expenses including debt service).If you keep pulling out equity to buy more you are raising the portfolio size but you may be standing still when it comes to a sustainable income.Some folks will build a portfolio that covers itself while they continue to work full time.

My long term is to acquire a RE portfolio that will sustain me and my interest through retirement and also serve as a legacy tool for my children.  

Will the area be economically sustainable in 10 years or will you need to sell out by then.

However, even though it is great for quick money, the only way to make it sustainable is to create a business and hire employee's or VA's, so that the business operates independently.

I feel the need to not just create a successful and sustainable life for myself but put my children in a position to own something that generates a source of income outside of their main subjects of interest.

@Danielle Wolter, your response resonated with me as I am currently "stuck" in a well-paying soul-sucking job with very little time to do my "passion" job.

Your goals resonate with me because they are similar to mine.

Change your story each month as different stories will resonate with different people AND use each story to emphasize one of your “who do you know…” questions.

I’m figuring it out just like everybody else but remember whatever business that you pick - you have to think about the ability to sustain it.

At the moment, I put aside about 40-60k in start up capital to start this new venture and I am wondering if that is actually enough to make this a viable business that can sustain my life and pay all my bills?