Many of our friends, that are lenders,are dropping to 50% LTV, but they are in more volatile markets than we feel we are.

But the point is you can use your retirement funds to invest in something way less volatile than the stock market (still with rep-tax dollars). 

The stock market is incredibly volatile, so unless you're a day trader capitalizing on the fluctuation or you're someone parking their money in an index fund for the next 30 years that's not the most appetizing option.

Given the uncertainty there will likely be alot of adjustments in policies, rates, underwriting guidelines, consumer confidence, etc. and people, governments and industries struggle to find what works best to solve problems and to solve the problems that the solution to their problems unexpectedly created, there may be more volatility in the real estate industry than usual.  

What we do know is that apartment cash flows have become more risky (if they were always this volatile and the market ignored the risk is a debate for another day).

Many individuals are looking to lend their money to escape the volatile market they have been accustomed to.

I can't get a fully straight answer about the rental market at the moment, everything seems too volatile, but it does mean we'd have some time to spruce up the homes and get better rates.  

They're less volatile than the boom/bust cities that everyone uses to measure "national real estate values", less subject to increased vacancy losses during tough times, and they cash flow well regardless of the economic phase... if acquired and operated correctly. 4.

There's always going to be some degree of volatility but the most we can do as investors is learn everything we can and hedge our bets accordingly. 

You will point out that the stock market is volatile and that the financial advisor is just trying to protect his commissions.