retire?
I look at my investment rentals as a 401K. Because I am a stay at home Mom, and because there are not any 401K plans available for me, I needed something for my future.
You could consider flipping properties to boost your yearly income. Unlike investment properties the money once made is made rather than realizing it over a longer period of time. If you have not amassed 20 or so properties yet maybe flipping a few each year would help you out.