I'm more inclined to take action, but well educated and rational action. 

Just know what your exposure is and then make a rational decision.

@Nathaniel Busch , it doesn't work that way even though you're thinking is rational. 

Pay attention to gold/silver ration and if <45 buy gold, if >45 buy silver.

You're losing money from cash flow and from your equity and don't realize it because you're rationalizing it.How long have you been negative CF? 

Here are some details:Market: Sacramento Suburbs Value:~ $400KEquity: ~$250K Original Downpayment: ~$25KPrincipal paydown: ~$7K/year (loan has 15 yrs left)Price to Rent Ration: .47Cashflow: $150/monthIt had a good appreciation run over the past several years, however, the market seems to have plateaued a bit.

When confronted with an overwhelming negative response like this I would assume that a rational person would start to second guess what they are doing and want to get an opinion from an actual subject matter expert. 

That is just their propaganda to rationalize their actions.

Claiming it blocks you from achieving your dreams is a false rationalization to quit something that you don't find fun or see the point of in your 19 yr old wisdom.

Look into BRRRRTHe trick here is that the cheaper you buy it, the more money you will make and have available for the "repeat" part if this strategy.See the problem with buy and hold investors is that they think Lead Generation does not apply to them.These investors for some stupid reason think that it is OK to buy MLS properties and they think Ohh my number calculations are very different from flipping or wholesaling.THen they buy houses the "conventional" way and after the 3rd house their debt to income ration is so high they are stuck.