This isn't much different then investing in the stock market... there is risk and there is reward.  

@Kristin Vegas - If you are buying in Chicago proper, be sure to become familiar with the landlord tenant ordinance which is specific to the city. https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/doh/provdrs/landlords/...There is a good stock of multifamily housing just west of the city if you are looking for a more suburban feel with better schools and policing while still being able to get to the Chicago city center within 15-20 minutes. 

There are a lot of people who bought Game Stop stock and call themselves investors too...

Even with stocks, there is "full service" where you call a broker to sell the stock for you instead of selling it yourself through a platform.

Nobody has a crystal ball to predict the future but, generally, rates will likely go down, property will appreciate and rent's will increase.Getting experience as a landlord is valuable too...

@Steve Onay Texas will likely be a bit more landlord friendly than Chicago, but as you referenced, the building stock in Chicago is just ideal for house hacking.

however, I find that new construction the prices aren't as predictable as older houses where it already has the set prices, here in new jersey I didn't see it going down really, and even if it did a little, I believe 100% that it is only a dip as the real estate market history will also show. could be in areas like Florida or suburbs it might fall more with less interest of new people moving there but crowded cities like Newark new jersey will always have the need for more apartments, and most important rents always go up with exceptions of maybe very short-term slips

It is used to establish a business credit file, which is often referenced by lenders and potential business partners to help predict the reliability and/or financial stability of the company in question.

@Travis AndresThe beauty of such "rules" is that they are up to each investor how much stock you put in them. 

My goal, for my process-oriented mind, was to make my real estate less crazy and more predictable.