Does all cash always trump a mortgage?

[Erik Pilon]

I’m on the fence.

For rental properties, some books and podcasts say get as many properties as you can with as many mortgages as you can with $X. Others suggest to take the same amount of $X and purchase with all cash.

I’m sure people have succeeded with both strategies, but say I do have that $X, what’s generally the most successful path?

I’m on the fence between all cash for a single family, or a mortgage for a 4-plex.

The end-game for investors is to be all cash on multi-families, no?