Is it even a good time to buy right now or should I be waiting until interest rates go down?

First and foremost, I don't believe your best source of information is from an investor-friendly Realtor or a long term rental property manager.

Small differences in interest rate isn’t wildly important on a lower loan amount.Minimum property value is $75,000 and minimum loan amount is $50,000.

- Current income- Hope of price appreciation- Vacation home to go to- Future retirement home- Store of value/hedge against inflation- Generational gift to the family- Alternative to traditional retirement investmentsI'll go first. 

Don't want your first deal to put you in financial trouble. 

I reside in CA, and have invested in first and seconds in my home state. 

This can be especially useful during the first years of purchasing, remodeling, or constructing a property when budgets are tight and having money on hand can be beneficial.

Rates on a DSCR 1st are pretty low compared to a conventional loan 

Lower-skill jobs have higher turnover, and companies that hire for these roles are always hiring and are likely not the pickiest employers (for example, the average annual restaurant industry turnover rate is 79.6% from 2013-2023 – 79.6% of restaurant employees leave their job every year).

Visiting with your banker might be a good first step.