Starting out like you, Christopher, I think you have less mental pressure at USPS. 

I share the same mentality with respect to investing in RE - slow and steady.  

I was studying with internachi for the home inspection course but ran into a mental block so I am taking it easy till I get my inspection certificate.

However, in my research I came across a couple of issues that is holding me up mentally.

Man does this mentality seem JUST like she described.

Meaning that everybody and their brother is jumping into the real estate market, the herd mentality...

I'm a sophomore studying finance at a business school so I have a strong grasp over long-term stock market investing, but much less over property rental, but I definitely subscribe to the buy and hold philosophy as opposed to the 'flipper' mentality.

The takeaway here is never to trust in the herd mentality that past performance indicates future success, especially when it requires that you make a very, very dear sacrifice: positive cash-on-cash returns.

BUT I've also contacted listing agents before and just never heard back, I assume due to the same mentality Russell described above. 

It'd also be great to take a mental break from sitting and working in information security all day; I swear I'm losing my mind from all of these alerts...