I’d buy there as much as I can comfortably afford regardless of MTR strategy.

This includes understanding your budget, securing financing if needed, and determining what you can comfortably afford.Research is key.

People should do what they are comfortable with and be careful when people use words like "don't", "shouldn't" or "can't" in such a broad context.  

You have consider that your average first time home buyer, has no clue how to read an LE, does not even know what fees are for what, and needs that additional assistance for them to feel comfortable purchasing their first property.

This very comforting device alerts you if the noise level is above a threshold. 

Maybe you could compromise by finding a property that you can live in comfortably but also has rental potential (like a duplex).

As you keep learning, you'll get more comfortable with the numbers and figure out which strategy works best for you both.

When you are investor friendly it means you understand the metrics of the buyers property search.I have seen so many agents get comfortable and simply add their new buyers to the "Hot Sheet" and they blast the buyers with properties that do not even fit the buyers cash flow needs or budget.

It’s crucial for me to achieve a favorable appraisal, as my estimates place me comfortably below 80% loan-to-value.

It really comes down to what you are comfortable with.