Is it worth it to enter the real estate game at this time.

[Josh Dickson]

I've always been interested in real estate but I never had the capital to even think about it until recently. Some of the information I've read seems to indicate that the market is very competitive at this moment. Also, interest rates are higher than they have been for the last decade or so. My primary intention is to slowly accumulate rental properties to supplement my income and maybe, some day, be able to retire early. I've started educating myself but I wanted to ask people who have actually taken action and gotten into it, is it worth it at this time?