Then our plan is to leave our regular 9-5s and semi-retire into property management and acquisition.

Your options 1-5 are not passive.Best option if you want to retire is to sell and re deploy the equity in a vehicle that will return a fairly consistent income.

I started to lose track of the “big dream” of owning 30 rentals when I’m 40 and retiring.

I plan to launch my real estate business on the side and build up properties until I am able to secure enough cash flow to potentially retire from my primary job.My first rental was my primary residence so we have a decent amount of equity in the property (Current Market Value = $260K, loan $168K) and have a great 30 year fixed rate (3.25%).

Such plans are purely for diversifying your tax sheltered retirement savings into alternative assets such as real estate, but all activities must be exclusively for the benefit of the plan and you may not personally use the plan funds in any way.

depends on what your trying to do.and where your at financially and time available.the folks that fall for the you too can retire even though you have no money and real estate can be done with others money.. while true.. rarely true for a beginner even one who graduated the class.. you simply lack real time experience.To me those that get the most out of mentoring have the ability to transact with their own funds and credit.. 

The latter is more important as it represents actual return on investment net of appreciation and debt retirement.

If your close to retirement this isn't a bad idea to look at.I heard a financial advisor on the radio I listen to talk about how foolish this is.

If you buy for cash and rehab to raise value, then mortgage the property to get your money out for a repeat of the process, then the property had better pay off before you die, at least, or in my case, before I retire, since that's when I need the cash flow to start. 

Working with a Mentor will expose you to people you want to be like – the right kind of people who have done and achieve what you want to do and achieve.The Impossible way – Do nothing – wait to retire to start somethingTake the wrong real estate training – pay too muchListen to Know-It All Want to Be Rich Poor People at REIAsDon’t set goals – goal setting is a method that your conscious mind programs your subconscious mind – that programing (goal setting) will direct you to fulfill your commandsDon’t make offers – quit early – watch TV – sleep late -Listening to the negative comments from others who say “You cannot do it, you don’t have the skills or knowledge, you failed at all those MLM programs – stick to the job you hate!”