That being said there is always going to be risk, so if you're able to better understand rental demand, price point, etc., that can be very helpful. 

A Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) loan for investment properties is often considered better than a traditional mortgage for several reasons such as: it focuses on the property's income rather than your personal income.

You will be better off with a DSCR for the long term.

This is the most basic level of protection and it is not very effective, but it is still better than nothing.

It is almost always better to have leverage than it is to own cash. 

Am I better off just renting and investing elsewhere?

Is it a better option to put that $30,000 car on a credit card and pay it down over 5 years or get an auto loan on it that amortizes over that period?

The earlier you start in your RE journey, the better off you will be in the future.

Better schools, lower crime, quality of lie. 

If book keeping is not something you keep up with, then you are probably better off running all income and expense for the triplex through a separate account.