To answer your question deeper, lenders usually see homeowner-occupied loans as less risky and tend to be more favorable to them over investments.

I think the markets you're looking at will continue to see rent growth but one would need to look deeper into supply delivery of new units vs. deman (job growth) plus rent prices relative to AMI (area median income).

Do you feel like giving it a name promotes an emotional attachment to a property?

Start the eviction process and don’t get emotional.

The old lady is a emotional item.

You're describing your emotions about the house...and trying to equate that to how it matters as an investor. 

And don’t discount creative financing deals or buying off market properties at deeper discounts.

I would say stock investing is probably 10x harder to learn and there is much more emotional capital that needs to be used than RE.

It's such an emotionally charged thing it seems risky to show up alone on their doorstep-

Now you need to start preparing for marketing, showing, screening software and processes, selecting a tenant, Fair Housing, emotional support animals, collecting a deposit, disparate impact, local and state housing laws, Section 8, your lease agreement, late rent, unpaid rent, partial rent, bounced checks, etc.No worries!