If you are okay with someone painting over your original woodwork (even though the lease says they can't) or ruining your marble countertops when they dye their hair (true stories) then you may be emotionally hardened enough to rent your original home that you have lovingly designed.Consider, also that at times you will have to carry two large mortgage payments and decide if you are willing to do that.

Determine if you have the discipline to manage cash, or want to be a  landlord.  

Other than the depression of 1920’s no government has had the wisdom and discipline to do that.  

Being successful in real estate investing is no easy thing – it's not just about mastering facts; it demands a toll on physical, emotional, and philosophical levels.

Hi Jessenia,I've been in the game for quite some time and have many battle scars to prove it lolMy best advice would be to always look at a worst case scenario and start from that.By starting with a worst case scenario you will be able to quicker eliminate markets that aren't a good fit.I don't know much about NY but personally, I wouldn't invest in any market that takes 6 months or even worse longer to evict.Worst case scenario for example = Tenant doesn't pay rent and trashes the property.I would want to be able to evict, fix and re-tenant as quickly as possible.Time is money and I want to keep moving forward and not deal with financial and emotional drag.There are many markets nation wide that are landlord friendly.My business is based on Ohio and there is no mercy for non payment of rent.Eviction usually takes 6 weeks max and although I never want to evict, being able to do so quickly minimizes risk of that investment.Thanks 

I got "lost in emotion"  & bidded it up and up and (thank God) lost.

They have mandated emotional support animals and have questioned landlords denying felons.

So that is always dependent on personal emotion.

I agree with your thesis...deal flow IS real estate investing.Baseball is good training for REI...takes discipline and persistence after adversity. 

You should keep learning, networking, looking for mentorship, be disciplined and patient.Good luck!