It depends on a lot of factors:Do you plan on living off just the income generated from rentals now, or at some later point in time?

I would agree that being able to utilize leverage is what makes real estate investing so great but I can understand the desire to pay things off so as to not worry about them later.

For example, the City of Berkeley requires that a sewer lateral test and repair if necessary be done when a property transfers title.  

From there we partnered up and 40 properties later here I am. 

If I buy more then the new money will be paid for later. 

Low and behold my daughter gets a call 2 weeks later after the landlord changed his mind.  

Wow three years later and I’m back, thank you all for the responses I have not given up on my dream of investing in real estate, in fact I think I have a plan for my current situation.Currently own my primary residence through a VA home loan.

I was like, "I was 12 when I bought the stock because I wanted to do something fun with it later in life."

I'm at my day job right now with a pretty packed schedule but will hit you up later.

And now 2 years and 4 deals later she regrets not getting a duplex to start as she now understands how much that extra income would help us.