Leverage vs Debt Free

[Pasquale Zingarella]

I am currently under contract for my first investment property-a quadplex which I financed after 25% down.

I am looking to understand from experienced investors their preference between leveraging equity vs being debt free...especially for someone like me who is just starting.

I do understand each deal will be different and it will depend on the compared returns. However, I am hoping to understand how people balance risk aversion by paying off each property before moving onto the next OR leverage to a certain point then use the cashflow from multiple properties and pay each off one by one.

Thanks everyone!