I'm betting that you can meet any sensible financial independence goal with considerably less hassle, less risk, and far fewer units, especially if they are higher quality units.

How much margin depends largely on the quality of the asset and the consistency (not just quantity) of the cash flows it throws off even in bad times.

One can always argue that the quality of properties may be better in CA, but I'm of the belief that quantity has a quality of its own.  

@Taylor Brooks, I very much enjoyed reading (listening to the audio book) The Real Estate Wholesaling Bible, by Than Merrill.

- There A LOT of other deal types that require little cash and are easier to do than lonnie deals.Alternatives:- buy the park- buy MHs on their own land (we own 20 or so, all are on rent to own, seller will finance to up the quality of the tenant and reduce turn over).- Stay away from MHs all together:  direct mail expired listings of nicer homes in good school districts with the deal type being lease / option or buying subject to.  

When clients ask questions about quality of schools, local demographics, and neighborhood safety, I refer them to reliable third-party public information sources rather than give my own judgment or opinion.

It is hard to leave and area with great profit margins, but quality of life in a warm climate is more important to me and I don't like owning small properties from a distance personally (because I never had to).I am looking for large multi-family moving forward.

Who have you had the best experiences with in terms of quality, prices, speed, and relationship?

Hi,My friend suggested me to use a quality management software for my company.

Anything above that valuation is basically your option to work.So, I would say most of us are capable of being financially free, but a lot of us choose to work because we want to live in a higher quality place.If we get back to the 3 to 5 year time frame proposed by the OP, yes, it's quite doable.