Avoid the US north-east and west coast, and you can find pretty decent values. I know a guy in his 30s who is "retired". He actually works about 2hrs per week.

Avoid the US north-east and west coast, and you can find pretty decent values. I know a guy in his 30s who is "retired". He actually works about 2hrs per week. He has 10 rental properties. He pays 0 taxes due to depreciation exceeding his rent + costs. He makes around $90K / yr take home pay which is enough for his standard of living. So the answer is, yes. Being a land lord can work, if you get the parameters right as he seems to have done.