Yes, you want current income and a personal portfolio, but over the long term, that Roth IRA if invested well can produce a whole lot of tax-free money for you in the future.  

My goal is to learn the biz from the inside-out and slowly transition from active to passive income over the next decade or so. 

My end goal is to get another stream of income that will take me into a comfortable retirement.  

She even quit her full time job to pursue real estate full time, which has become a large challenge for us living on one income, and me being a senior airman.

I would recommend staying on the lower in when it comes to rental income expectations. 

Choose cities in safe and economically diversified areas with above-average income and population growth.

*However, I'll ask that the rental income will be mine after 9/20, instead of when we actually close.

Issues like....How is the income split.Who's name goes on the property.Who pays for taxes, insurance, maintenance.

How long must I rent my Chicago condo out before I can count the income toward another mortgage in Florida?  

What are the real tax benefits to the seller when transacting via purchase money mortgage...I can see if the property is not a primary being taxed at capital gains for the sale...but what happens when the seller files taxes at the end of the year...how do they report income from holding a mortgage?...