What's the term for this (me loaning money to someone in this manner)?

Eventually, property values will rise sustainably, which will ultimately be great for me exchanging out of my portfolio.

So, personally I used leverage early on to grow my portfolio, then at some point once I figured I had enough properties where the cash flow could sustain me if they were paid off and my family situation changed the switch flipped of valuing safety over growth so I am now deleveraging to free and clear cash flow.

I've never seen it happen though.Many utility companies have a "Landlord Agreement" for properties so that once a tenant cuts off service it automatically sustains under the Landlord's name so you don't have an interruption of service.

Also be mindful that if you get hurt, you more than likely will not have any claim for bodily injuries sustained.

The comps from the last 6 months were under different circumstances and very different interest rates, and therefore someone looking to sell for 500k having just reduced from 520k might still/already be overpriced by 5-10% based on reduced buyer demand, empty open houses, no bidding wars, increased DOM, etc.Prices of RE go down in a slow manner as the new closed comps from July and August will influence listings in September and so on going forward.

A flipper can sell for what their cost is and have a sustainable business model (It'd be a bad investing strategy, but they could keep churning money until they got tired of it).

I'm not sure exactly how a lender weighs that into the lending equation, but if this is your first property I would doubt it's much because it is my understanding they like to see established and sustained performance from the property to really start factoring rental income. 

You've probably heard of big Landlords losing property, but only because they were flagrantly violating Fair Housing, running a slum, or otherwise violating the law in an egregious manner.

Your portfolio is large enough to sustain to a Buildium account.