Real estate is more about debt pay-down and appreciation when it comes to the investment aspect.

Please try not to confuse two totally different aspects of investing when giving advice.

There is also the emotional aspect that makes us want to avoid certain things, like townies walking through just because they are nosey.

They're already there and given the holiday season, probably the traffic is light, so you can chat then up for 10-15m about the area, rental class, as well as any remarkable developments in the area that would positively impact that home/area. 

For example, I am a little concerned about some aspects of the business cycle recovery and a potential for a double-dip so I lean toward the safest part of capital stack which is debt (or low-debt equity).

The biggest difference to me is that YOU have control of every aspect of an active investment, while somebody else is in “control” of a passive investment.  

They make disparaging remarks.

The old adage is true in real estate as other aspects of life - if it seems to good to be true it probably is. 

Your contractor team is arguably one of the more challenging aspects of the pipeline.

Just walk away if you sense they won't let you investigate any aspect of the property you wish to.