I think some other markets for you to consider would be: Riverview (affordable MF properties at lower median listing than Coronado, at $105k).

I could just sit on my hands and wait 6 months for my properties to pull in enough cash to put a down payment on a house, but I want to go go go.So my question is as follows:    How do I "Afford" to get my next mortgage?

We have a solid market here that is much more affordable than Mississauga. 

Can you afford to cover in the case of multiple vacancies or multiple non paying tenants?

The borrowers couldn't afford the properties, but the properties were never worth the mortgage on the property.

If they can’t afford that, then I’ll take it out of their deposit for a couple months until they get their feet on the ground.

If you work something out with one tenant who is struggling in this crisis, whether it is rent reduction, rent credit, deferred payment plan of some sort, applying last month or deposits towards rent, whatever...how do you solve the problem in a multi family setting where everyone including the ones who could afford rent stop paying "If George gets to skip rent I am not paying either!"

If you lower the rent temporarily to "weather the storm" you'll end up "inheriting the storm" from a tenant that can only afford the lower rate.I always warn people to have a reserve for situations like this.

Most jobs are oil and gas execs and with oil down really low those companies are not making much to any profit and can't afford to keep paying those high salaries.

The multifamily space is very competitive with househacking strategy folks who can "afford" to bid more than a non-occupying investor due to better financing (rates, lower down payment etc) and also by self managing.