People who want to live in a property will always pay more than an investor because they are emotionally involved in making it their home. 

Never let your emotions dictate why you are doing/not doing things.

It may "feel good" to own properties free-and-clear (and money is emotional, don't let anyone tell you differently), but if that's the only reason you're doing it...BTW, how many "syndicators" have sent you private messages since you posted this?

You are absolutely not going to be prepared for everything by simply reading, but if you can be prepared and more importantly take the emotions of decisions, it will help you immensely.

Falling in love with a property will make you emotional and investors don't make decisions off emotions if they want to actually make money in this business.

There are strong emotional forces driving this interest, mainly the proximity to our house (12') and the ability to self manage and select who will be occupying it. 

Play an emotional angle with a video or letter to the seller with your offer.  5. 

This keeps it easy for you and keeps emotion out of it, if you can continue adding value and profiting then might as well keep going :)

This makes them sour on investing as they were emotionally attached to a property without being able to act.2. 

Emotions get involved in deals and logic goes out the window.