I understand the sentiment, I really do - but good intentions don't make up for an often sloppy execution that results in rampant fraud and abuse. 

I hope this one turns around for me so I can share your sentiment!

I agree with the general sentiment here that student rentals would not qualify as your typical MTR. 

Sounds like you could have some sentimental value in the house that may lead you to keep it. 

I would agree with the savings sentiment as well as learning and perfecting your craft.

Personally, I might hesitate to rent a house with another tenant on the property – is this a common sentiment?

Hey Paul I'd agree with the overall sentiment here that trading your current property for another one at today's prices and rates wouldn't likely be the best way to go.

If the numbers work they work, regardless of market sentiment

If you find a property with a 5% cap rate, and you assume 4% appreciation on the asset (averaged over time), and you borrow 75% of the purchase price at an 8% rate (I'm using that to show it can still make sense), your compounding annualized rate of return is closer to 11% over the next 5 years.And if it appreciates at an average of 5% over the next 5 years, your annualized return jumps to 14% (the loan causes this anomaly where additional appreciation of just 1% will have that effect, which is why it is aptly called leverage).What's even more outrageous is that your tax-equivalent rate of return is going to be another few percentages higher (depending on your circumstances) because real estate is generally a very tax-friendly investment.Of course, you won't hear this from most financial advisors.Even the cap rate itself is not important, compare to the importance of the "trend of the cap rate" and the "comps of cap rate" because that would indicate "market sentiments".What most folks unable to grasp is, for 9% cap rate to reach 7% cap rate , is faster than cap rate from 6% cap rate to 5% cap rate.The trend of cap rate is more like "the velocity of a trend" which is what we're chasing as investor , that translate to IRR and XIRR at the end of year 5 like Lane described.

Hannah - I agree with the "start a little closer to home" sentiment.