Two issues I see you doing that are hurting you are your lack of networking ( trying to go at it alone without a mentor or group ) and the other thing is your fear of leverage or trying something new and creative to acquire assets .

My fear is definitely to say the wrong thing, but I am reassured that with a positive approach, it can be beneficial to everyone.

In other words, if I'm in charge of acquisitions and finding the deals, the fear is that I would cherry pick the best ones to keep for myself and turn the others over to them.

As long as you run your numbers right and plan appropriately, you don’t need to fear the balloon.

Other goals this year include:1) giving myself permission to be wealthy 2) letting go of fear.

You have to be able to embrace that fear, think logically and be risk averse.  

@Carolyn Fuller I'm sure you are a good person but I'm always baffled at how those on the left tend to live in constant fear and make judgements and knee jerk reactions based on a cursory understanding of the facts that are typically drawn from what they saw on TV or Facebook.

I would also have the fear they just tossed a heart beat into the unit.

The secret is hard work, self-discipline, courage, acting in spite of fear, never ending learning, growth, and constantly striving to achieve your investment goals... and therefore life goals.  

It’s the fear of not having a tenant and needing 2-3k for every month it’s vacant that steered me away from it.