I think I'm in that camp. 

In my opinion too many people get into real estate not because they think it's the most effective way to become wealthy, but because they watched too much HGTV and think they can become overnight millionaires.

No its not easy and its not overnight and you don't get rich overnight, but once you start down a path its a lot easier to keep going especially when people guide you down the right one. 

The shale oil fields in the Dakota oil fields sprung up over night and created huge opportunities, then disappeared almost as fast.  

It doesn't happen overnight but sometimes the best things in life are worth waiting for.Anyways, all this said I don't think anyone here is going to be able to speak to the compatibility and where you and your girlfriend's hearts are in terms of evaluating a committed relationship. 

I suppose because it’s the government acting in a cruel and authoritarian manner to a minority of well off homeowners that they feel justified imposing this financially devastating decision overnight.

I understand Real estate is not something over night, I want to make the burden easier not only on myself, but for my mother (she works extremely hard).

have never read the book.. but I can't see how yearly income relates to one's success.. one who makes more money may do a lot of cool ventures that have nothing to do with real estate that are really rewarding to them.. like charity,, travel.. camping extended time off all sorts of things ( we commonly call smelling the roses).. that can't be measured.and then of course you have that definite little nugget really depends on where you live and what your basic housing cost are going to be.. someone living in NYC  maybe can barely squeeze by on 500k a year whereas in fly over country or some Mid West MSA were median home prices are 140k and gas is under 2 bucks and food is 20 to 30% cheaper at restaurants etc etc you live like a king on 10k a month. 

Your near Camp Pendleton.

His only benefit was from equity paydown(paying the mortgage) his advice was count on 50%, obviously heavily influenced by tenant turnover.On current strategy, the world is yield starved with low rates of return on everything, so many are accepting formally unthinkable returns as "better than money in the bank"I would be firmly in the "time to re-strategize" camp, and think the artificially low interest rates will cause a lot of malinvestment as financial engineering usually does.7.5% should be doable with multifamily or syndicationAlthough there seems to be no end to those who will overpay, perhaps not understanding actual costs or investing for other reasons(besides cashflow) on the commercial side.