I saw too many landlords get plastered when it went bad.. so its either own the rentals with minimum to no debt or be in Notes which we do a lot of and own the debt not be in debt.  or

They are in no position to own and you are in no position to be taking on debt or bad deals for them .

There are ways to invest actively or passively, short term or long term, owning property or just controlling it, being a creditor or a debtor and all of those in various combinations.

@John Morgan, I don't disagree with Dave Ramsey all the way in regards to disliking debt, or you for that matter.

Sometimes debtors inherit property and often buy near where they lost their home. 

So I should use my line of credit to pay down debt or save it until I'm ready to invest?

To pay down debt or to expand? 

I don't truly understand the capital needed to start the REI process or if I shoukd be paying off debt or what first..

Since I'm not inclined to purchase more real estate at this stage in the cycle, I'd rather pay down debt or potentially invest the funds elsewhere to earn a higher return. 

Instead they work for someone else, trade stocks/bonds on their own and are very good at what they do and enjoy it (read get paid well for their skills).I also know people who never have worked for someone else and make as much money as a doctor would at 30, running their own company, with zero debt or college education.Personally I’m somewhere in the middle.