The tax benefits refer to the tax deductions from mortgage interest and property tax.The returns mainly rely on appreciation, and the cash flow only improves in the last few years, also depending on securing the 5% refinance rate.I've learned a lot from this forum, but as I start to operate on my own, I'm still not completely confident.

If it were 2007 all over again and you knew you could sell at a record high, and invest your capital into conservative bonds and wait until the market corrected, would you?

Lastly more to my point - I thought you worked for a MF syndication in the past that I was not sure but wanted to mention and that you are not just someone coming off the street having never been involved in a deal (unlike a lot of others).  

Quote from @Mackaylee Beach: I think these times (the last two years), and this year are the ones that will give birth to some of the best investors.

Based on his last post, @Samuel Kim now seems to think it’s pointless for him and his wife to explore this topic over posts made by professionals who barely know anything about his situation. 

Lastly, if you want cash flow so you can quit your job then you might want to consider strategies like flipping, Airbnb, property management, and being a real estate agent.

I started my solo-shop last summer and looking for ways to improve!

I was a Navy submariner for 21 years and really focused the last 6 years on growing our portfolio.

Home last sold in 2007 for somewhere around $120k, currently could sell for upwards of $400k, so it's probably paid off or has very low interest rate.

Recognize there are challenges doing BRRRRs since the rate increases that have occurred in the last couple years