"limited access to capital until retirement age" - I don't like this statement.

Make sure you know the EXACT age of the roof from the seller and if not, you might have a problem even getting the house insured for roofs older than 15 years old in some states5.

so that makes the distinction as follows:-is "it" a good time to buy real estate? 

Today is an age the USA has long not seen, COMPETITION.

If you’re looking to build REAL wealth, then leverage of one type or another is necessary.Debt is one type of leverageSyndicators leverage investors capital as equityStart up companies leverage Venture Capitalists investments in both equity and debt.The real estate investor has 3 distinct “cycles” with debt leverage1st stage is debt secured by real estate but also personally guaranteed and often cross collaterialized2nd stage is debt secured by real estate but liability not personally guaranteed and recourse limited to specific property.3rd stage is debt free If you own units in a syndicated real property investment and the investment is leverage by debt you may not think of it as YOUR debt because you’re a passive investor, but your investment is encumbered by debt the same as property you own individually IF you haven’t personally guaranteed the debt.  

Then I read in your profile, 500 units by age 24?

They did this while they continued to work in plumbing and dry cleaning until they retired at age 62.

Age group 4 and up.  

But you could see the distinct advantage I had it was huge.I feel sorry for folks doing this in PA and other states that are so antiquated..  

I am starting out later in life (age 50) and looking to have some passive cash flow and hoping for appreciation over time.