They are in to make money, period.Agree with @Caleb Heimsoth that, based on the info you have provided here, you should focus on eliminating your student loan and consumer debts before buying property.

If one clearly outperforms the other then you may want to focus on going all-in on that marketing strategy and eliminate the other.Based on my experience, you can close deals using any marketing channel.

If I were in your shoes, I would be saving as much as possible and also searching for off market deals where you can BRRRR them - pretty much eliminating down payment costs if you get a good enough deal. 

If you don't have the 3.5% down, ask your agent to help you with a few DP assistance programs so even that can be reduced or possibly eliminated depending on the product and price points in your area.

You also have the option of not renewing their lease (but it's literally impossible to evict in CT right now, so tread lightly with lease renewals until the Governor eliminates the moratorium).    

As tenants turn over, I'll be installing them on the rentals to eliminate lockout calls and so I don't have to rely on my giant key ring.I won't use them for apartments where the front door is right on the street because neighbors could watch my tenants enter the keypad code, for those I'll do it on the back door.

My first goal was to just reduce or eliminate my housing cost (rent/mortgage).

Contracter didn't get paid and recorded a document on the property which wasn't a lien but clouded it enough that it eliminated the possibility of an easy DIL.A borrower's "story" of his plan for a quick flip convinced me to lower my interest rate more than normal.

Up to you whether you eliminate them that say "yes".

Rental income appreciation = eliminates operating in red in 8 years (estimate)4.