Some investors view appreciation as icing on the cake as it fluctuates from year to year.

HINT: Asking for their favorite cake recipe may not be relevant, unless you're a super niche REI who only invests in bakery properties.2.

From putting family/friends phone #'s as landlord/job references, to leaving out rental history, to inaccurate income; but nothing takes the cake like my experience this weekend.An applicant tours the property on Friday.

Saw this article on cheese cake factory not paying April rent.  

I can only assume you're stressed and frustrated and this is not how you interact with people normally.Disingenuously implying that you know what's going on inside my head was the icing on the cake. 

You may be able to buy your personal residence for less than 20% down and divert some of that capital to the purchase of a multi-family effectively having your cake and eating it too. 

. 🤩🤩 The icing on the cake, the monthly payment is going to be even less than rent!

Selecting a tenant is like baking a cake.

I'd ideally like a combination of both, but I guess it's even harder to have your cake and eat it too.

You're welcome to do either/or, but right now you're trying to have your cake (be nice and "fair" to everyone) and eat it too (make money).