I wouldn't bet on either at this stage but if you like a gamble...

Trying to weed people out at local REI meetings to be possible mentors is also gamble and a huge time suck.

The lady giving the verbal offer that says she thinks their might be mold is not a good buyer.

"The lady doth protest too much, methinks" If you have anything of substance to add to this discussion and show the flaws in the logic or arguments I present to support my position, please don't hesitate to tag me.  

If people think houses, or other assets, go up linearly then I am at a loss for words. i was on a cruise last fall and my wife made friends with a lady in Art Class and it we had dinner with  her and hubby.. turns out hubby was on the Board of American homes for Rent... they own about 30k homes.. they morphed from buying from others to building their own.. and then when rates rose they stopped and are just treading water at this time.. at least thats the report for that company..

To depend on the rates to drop substantially to cover refi cost is a gamble.

One learns very quickly and unfortunately usually the hard way that cash tenants are a huge gamble and that section 8 is the only way to find healthy, consistent, positive cash flow in Detroit and many of the other inner cities accross America.

It's like gambling for them but will want a much higher pref and much higher equity upside from syndicator because of little to no track record.

And your gambling a LOT of $ on trying something out, via purchasing a property to try the waters.     

I would take the gamble that rates will fall on their own over the next 3 years and live with the result.