Don’t talk with your spouse unless they want to, not your friends or coworkers, not your family.  

Rent out a room, or two or 3 in your new place to friends, family, co-workers. 

So... if I were to advise a friend, I'd tell them, sure, if you really wanna buy, this platform is fine, just like Roofstock is fine, if you really don't have a team built out and trust built in to find better deals & opportunities.

I have recently started a real estate company with a friend of mine.

Glad you asked my friend.  

I've met the owner, and my friend has 2 padsplit properties.

I have California investor friends buying in Texas (Dallas and San Antonio). 

Hello folks, I am the landlord for a property, and the tenants are three friends who share a single lease.

While I agree with all your points (especially the unconstitutional eviction moratorium), selling means you will a) get hit with huge capital gains taxes (my friend just sold his 5-unit and got hit with $150,000 tax bill), b) there is no place to invest the proceeds (stock market is too risky, banks are risky and pay really low interest), and c) you are too young and if you change your mind and want to purchase more investment properties, interest rates and prices are too high. 

Friends Title is attorney-owned and investor-friendly. https://friendstitle.com/