I didn't feel comfortable working in this survival-oriented environment (the bottom rung of Maslow's hierarchy of needs), but I had a hungry mortgage to feed every month.Those times made me yearn for financial independence where I would more than cover my living expenses with investment income and not have to be concerned with the price of gasoline or the chip industry's "book to bill" ratio.

I'm sure they are, and like the police they are necessary to keep a clean and usable environment like you mentioned.

They get more out of a social environment like cubicles.Some it may be Power- getting things done and putting your name on billboards and their office, truck or wherever  Hard to be a quiet stealth wealth landlord if thats your thing.

Beware when reading that the Canadian/Ontario real estate/financial environment here is nothing like that in the US.

In the current lending environment you may be able to find a non-conventional lender that will let you get away with a 10-15% down payment, but expect to pay for that in interest rate (upwards of 7%+)No matter what though nothing is impossible no matter what anyone here tells you.

Not everybody wants to live in highly urban environment where most of these units are,   and a lot of people who are living in those units already are doing so because they moved to the area recently for a job,   and/or could not find anything else close in.   

To me that makes sense in a competitive environment, that someone as inexperienced as myself would have a tough time finding a cash flowing gem.I like the point you made about how you make sure negative cash flow is less or equal too what I would pay in rent.

It made me very happy.I see myself teaching in a non traditional environment at some point in the future or having a shop where people bring things to fix things (preferably teaching them how to fix things). 

I am moving most of my money into more conservative investments in the economical environment we are in.

Considering the current economic environment, real estate market, and international tariffs... is now a good time to buy a rental property?