Are you connected with a lender for funding these deals? 

Always have a contingency fund.

I'm weighted towards RE but I have been buying in the public markets recently (stocks, index funds, bonds, REITs, Master Limited Partnerships, Business Development Companies).

If you can get your direct deposit moved against your heloc right away, and then you do not have to pay bills instantly, you are leaving your idol funds offsetting a 7.5-8.5% interest rate.

These are also the banks that are more commonly relationship lenders and will allow your originations to out pace your balance sheet if you are consistently able to execute on the projects they fund for you.

I'm now in my 40s and financially independent living off of real estate and index funds.

There are sites out there like passive pockets as well as this site where you can find out a lot from people who have invested with that fund.

If first time home buyers are having a difficult time coming up with the funds for even the costs to play as a first time home buyer then are the non profits supposed to pay the buyers agent commission too? 

Network with other local investors and always have a solid emergency fund.2.

And the truth is, if the investment property was completely passive and you had zero connection with it, such as an arbitrary stock in a mutual fund, then I would agree not to get emotionally attached to any one investment.