The outlying suburbs seem to be having a much stronger growth trend for the time being.

Great to take the plunge there is not better teacher than the mistakes you will inevitably make and come back stronger from on the first properties. 

My networks, though much stronger, can still be improved.

Particularly people who are earning an appropriate income but are inclined to pay late anyway aren't the best at this, otherwise they might be stronger at budgeting.An idea I heard that was similar that seems like a good one to me (and offers an immediate benefit to the tenant) is to raise the rent by, say, $20, and then offer a "paid on time reward" of a $20 discount.

That is generally the first step for any property and will make your offer to the landlord a lot stronger.

I'm sure it'll make the U.S currency stronger.

These are the difficult learning experiences which will make you a seasoned and stronger investor. 

I think Real Estate is very safe and will be only stronger in the medium-term.  

And, more of us have "been here, suffer through this, and emerged stronger for it" that there's not doubt that:You've got this...

@Ronald RohdeThe developer has amazing returns but they are going for projects 10x the size of their normal single family ones of the past, so they arent holding the stronger hand in terms of risk and need.