Save for down turn or begin to invest

[Salvador Ramirez]

I live in the Chicagoland area and work in construction. Rumors are that next year is not looking so good for work. Before the pandemic my wife and I were saving Up cash to look for our first rental property. We currently have one car loan and our personal residence for debt. Should we prepare for a possible downturn and me losing my job or look for that first property?