I currently have just about all of the time in the world to commit to learning and growing my knowledge on real estate.I feel that my niche would be the buy and hold strategy to start of and eventually grow into some larger purchases.

Years ago I had 50 agents on the residential side just to grow it and try to make the big guys buy it off of me.

So it will help grow my portfolio in hopes to achieve my goal.

Welcome Brian,The Colorado investor family is growing!

@Daniel Ringwald I've never looked into those markets myself but understand the area in general is growing fast!

I'm driving hard with a rather singular focus on my goal.I want to be financially independent by 2017 for three reasons: 1) my daughter will be 5 and I want to be around for her as she is growing up, 2) I want to hike the Appalachian Trail with my dad and 3) I've learned that life can be very short and I want to experience so much of what this awesome planet has to offer.After running all the numbers, short of catching one of those crazy dot com stocks in the late 90's (and selling before it's too late) or starting something like FaceBook (or probably Bigger Pockets!?!)

I could imagine the satisfaction of growing it from nothing.

Robert,If the objective of your purchase is cash-flow, then appreciation matters little - don't get me wrong, it's still nice, but the success of the investment does not rely upon it.Matching your product - in your case, single-story (ranch style) duplexes - to your clientele ({nearly} retired, aging tenants who do not wish to contend with stairs as they grow old or those with mobility issues), whether done explicitly or intuitively, is the key to low turnover.We are considering a multi-family unit which is comprised of 25-row houses in a single story garden home format as it has an appeal to our aging population.

Turnkey properties out if state in growing cities seem to make the most sense to me.

Growing up, I was able to watch and learn.