My main concern as im beginning investing is oweing too much money and the markets/economy/rentals crash 5-20 years from now i want a safe pillow (paid off properties) to land on just incaseHell if the restaurant i run slows down too

So, when I can make what I make now at the restaurant (~$52k) I will be ecstatic. 

They never went out to restaurants (McDonald's was considered too expensive), movies, etc.

They spend more money on market research than you’ll make in 10 lifetimes, and the restaurant still didn’t survive.

LA relaxed some of its building rules, builders came in and built a lot of higher end units, the police moved the bums along out of the area and high end restaurants and shops started to move in. 

The other side had an inherited tenant.This applicant is a college student that has just started a job as a cook at a local restaurant.

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. 

So, I keep the very nice car for taking the Mrs. out to very nice restaurants and use the "average" car for meeting with sellers.

I currently came across a duplex sitting on 6 acres minutes away from an up and coming area(restaurants and shopping).

If your home was a restaurant or any other business you'd be losing money and would have to close shop.