However posts like this illustrate the dark side of the endless positive propaganda on this site.

(although as many in here will tell you--it's not money for nothing--it requires, work, knowledge and risk)There are also strategies that can be used such as Value Add, and etc...to force appreciation on rentals vs just waiting for prices to rise across the board.So there is a skill in it.And your question is like looking at what a tiny beam of light in a dark room lights up vs turning on the lights and seeing everything.Is every real estate deal a home run for everyone, no--many lose money for a variety of reasons--but those who know how, can limit the risk of losing and grow.And unlike stocks (which are pure speculation), real estate is never worth zero.If you are interested in doing this, take the time to educate yourself about it, and make sure you are up to the WORK that it involves, especially with renters--because some can be very, lets just say "Draining". 

I also have a little PTS from the GRC and 'remember when' RE was so much more affordable so there's that.What should signal the end of the road (so dark!)

Sometimes a deal can be slightly negative because you're living there as a house hack now that is a different story because you might "know," that when you move out it will be positive or positive after you raise rents and move out (lets say its a fourplex 4 flat for Chicago folks, and 4plex for us west coasters).In this case, it might be lucrative because in this example you control the "move/out," and conversion from negative cashflow to a positive cashflow scenario so the future potential is definitive versus some hope and prayer that you will someday cashflow (smoking hopeium so to speak).I've also seen some buy negatively cashflow properties here in Seattle PNW (pacific northwest) areas even after they move out (its still negatively cashflowing), but the aim was to build ADU or accessory dewelling units in the back and that eventual exit strategy would yield positive cashflow eventually.

The seams typically need to be sealed with fire-rated sealant to prevent smoke from passing through seams.

I thought it would be smoke signals. 🤭 

Everything else was dark and obscure.

One of the challenges we've faced in our first couple of months has been people smoking in our property.

Another superior location close by became available and they jumped on that site and build out a new store and moved there closing their old store, known as "going dark". 

We also find out about animals (we have a no pet policy) and smoking (we have a no smoking policy) and unauthorized occupants and rule breakers.