Some people do buy-and-sell models of rental investing, and that can make a lot of money, even though you only hang on to a property for a few years, if that.
What I think you need to keep in mind is that real estate is very much a part-time gig, and you should absolutely structure your investments so that, at will, you can outsource 95% of the work that goes into advertising them, renovating them, collecting rent, etc.
Overall, I'd say, be prepared and willing to rent out a property indefinitely. But if the opportunity presents itself and if there is sufficient upside, and you can sell for a sufficient profit, go for it.