With a 0.65 (1st yr) & 3.5 (2-5 yrs) rate I can accelerate payments to stay ahead of the game.

Big thanks to Rent to Retirement for getting me back into the game of real estate investing where I'm not doing everything on my own!

I have a mentor in the game that is very successful as a yay or nay resource.

However I would not consider them to be truly passive because they do not put any skin into the game like a good passive investment does (via a sizable coinvestment).

When rental demand dips they suffer with placing tenants or forced to play a game with who can charge the least in the area.  

When it comes to rental properties, cash flow is always the target of the game.

I occasionally get someone that says, "I know this one guy..." but they can't provide actual details and it's probably just a rumor.Almost all legal disputes are over security deposits and very small amounts.Large suits involve injuries, which are only a risk if the landlord is negligent (e.g. fails to repair a broken step and the tenant falls).Even if the landlord is guilty, the suit will most likely be settled out of court and covered by insurance.Even if it goes to court, insurance will cover the costs.The odds of a landlord losing a lawsuit for more money than the average insurance policy will pay are about the same as winning the lottery or being struck by lightning twice.

AirBNB isn't the only game in town.You need to be on both at a bare minimum.

Now that I have skin in the game, I'm definitely feeling the policy decisions impact me more so than ever. 

I'd also suspect that as an owner-occupant, one might be able to skirt strict STR laws, and rent out a primary in an extremely in-demand market, especially in the near-term (think collecting huge fees seasonally around CU football games the next few years).