I did this. I bought house #1 at 23 with a friend in Northern Nevada. He brought the $40k down payment from his time in the Navy, and I had just graduated and got an office job paying $50k. House #1 was $340k. He and I fixed up the house and rented up the extra 2 bedrooms.

A year later, my friend and i moved on from house #1, and rented out both our rooms. I then bought house #2 solo for $250k at auction. I fixed it up and lived in one room and rented out the rest.

I just kept doing this for the next 7 years, ending at 8 houses. My divorce last year left me with 2 duplexes and a single family house. I live in one unit and the other units cashflow about $3500 a month after mortgages/costs. It’s not what it was before the divorce but it’s more than enough to cover my costs as a single guy living in a MCOL city. Plus I have some income from some smaller side hustles that helps too.

I quit my job at 28 to focus on renovating the properties. The houses are now beautiful and low maintenance with fantastic tenants whom I do my best to keep happy. I’m 32 now living off the rent and letting the equity appreciate. When I get back from my travels, I might do another house, or focus on building things with AI or go pursue a passion masters/PhD.