It's really not that hard to keep ongoing books (investing an hour every couple of weeks) and records (Quickbooks or some other software...provided your on top of it).

I use a spreadsheet I developed to determine my entry costs, carrying costs, cash flow, tax write offs, appreciation and exit costs.

That is developing real-world deal experience. 

It's like a development deal in considering your engineers and architects as partners.

You can create boards for each property and track updates, tasks, and improvements visually.Property Management Software: Some users also leverage software like Appfolio or Buildium for more comprehensive tracking, though these can come at a cost.It really depends on your preference for simplicity versus more structured systems.

AI is in the development phase and we are in the education and integration phase at this point in time. 

I am in land development in the Treasure Coast.

That business model also tends to require being extremely hands-on, which seems at odds with the lifestyle goal of replacing a stable job.So if someone truly believes running around managing low-value homes is a better long-term life choice than a reliable W2 job, then by all means go for it—but it’s not for most.Another way people replace W2 income that may be more realistic is by getting involved in real estate with more meaningful fee potential, which usually means heavier construction-oriented development.

If you used DIY cost seg software, then you pushed it too far.

You’re essentially describing an appreciation-first, developer-tailwind strategy, and yes, some investors do this intentionally, but it needs very clear guardrails.