Serious risk in owning multiple properties?

[Yoni Weisbrod]

I see that it is a common goal for Buy & Hold investors to own several rental properties. Wouldn't having multiple mortgages expose someone to an excessive amount of risk?

Suppose there's a market crash, rental rates fall, house prices fall, and then paying a monthly mortgage payment could prove challenging (not to mention other risks, like unforeseen capital expenditures). This situation would be tough when you own one property - but wouldn't the issue be dangerously compounded with multiple properties?

I realize that people look for properties that are pretty much guaranteed to provide positive cash flow, but I just wonder how much risk is involved before I get started. Is building wealth through real estate risky, plain and simple?

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