Taking inventory of your goals and pairing that with your risk tolerance should help you make the right decision. 

Everyone's needs and perspectives are different and so are their goals and tolerance levels.I live in SoCal and I invest in SoCal. 

What's your end goal...is a certain return on equity or having a live for free situation or having a "4 houses by the time I'm 40" thing...I think it matters what your goal is and what is your risk tolerance is.

Also, everyone’s risk tolerance is different, you may have the temperament to deal with potential riff-raff while others (like myself) do not.The 1% rule is a nice-to-have if you can get it, but don’t let it be your sole “make or break” stat if all the other numbers make sense.

The quality of debt entirely depends on your investment strategy, risk tolerance, and financial situation.

It really depends on your tolerance for imperfections and whether you want risk having buckling/separation of planks etc.  

I'd say it depends on your situation, goals, risks tolerances etc.

Unless you're "well healed" for qualifying and can tolerate the extensive scrutiny of two lenders, I'd wait. 

I’m VERY interested in real estate and want to start investing but have a low tolerance for risk because I have people depending on me.

As long as we keep tolerating it they will keep doing it... :-)