I've been dreaming about investing in real estate for awhile now and I'm finally putting myself out there to the community in an effort to hold myself accountable & invest in at least one property this year!

My question is considering the above, what strategies exist that would allow me to leverage the free and clear condo such that I am expanding my portfolio, or am I kind of stuck in a holding pattern of waiting until these existing leases expire, and then potentially selling the properties?

You could repeat that process every year and essentially leave a “wake” of rentals behind you 

There are many opportunities to purchase properties that are distressed or in need of improvement at a reasonable price and increase their value tremendously and also rent them out if you choose to hold/rent them with all the people moving to the area.

Alternatively, you could buy a property with other people (you know or don't) under a fractional ownership structure or you and fellow investors could set up a partnership, which would buy and hold the property.If you don't want to get involved, you can be a passive investor and invest in the deals of active investors.

This is not Mint's fault, but Mint does not allow me the option to put in manual investment holdings.

You would need to be buying properties where you could force appreciation through rehabs like the BRRRR (Buy Rehab Rent Refi Repeat) strategy. 

If it is a long term hold rental, it makes things much easier. 

What is your goal with your next property (and the next) - I see investors flip back and forth with holding some and flipping in the mix to gain a larger one time sum of return too.

@Brett Synicky - it's not that's it's too complex, it's just a hassle / still complex and I don't want to hold property in a SDIRA.