Upon contacting them today with the information about imminent construction, the tenant refused to move the vehicle and said that if it was damaged during the course of the roof replacement, he would hold me financially responsible for the damage to the car.Can you all help me with the following questions:1.

I don't expect brand new vehicles, but I don't want Beverly Hillbillies trucks either! 

If you need control, you like the emotional aspect of owning a few properties yourself and think that being a landlord is going to be a fun thing to do as a part time job, then doing your own deals is what you need to do.If you are pursuing real estate strictly as a vehicle to provide cash-flow and to multiply equity over time and you buy into the thesis of Multifamily real estate or other asset classes then syndication is the way to go. 

At the same time, they look at us, driving our paid-off utility vehicle, living in a modest home and planning to move into an even more modest home, with a touch of quiet pity.

@Steve Morris I think the discussion is on syndications, not REITs as those are two different vehicles of investing

I mean your not going to be able to live off an investment of 60k no matter what investment vehicle you use. 

Also, owners have nice vehicles and spend extra on them like new chrome rims, fully tinted windows, and other dumb accessory stuff.

What do you drive and how much money do you owe on any vehicles you own?

But the more I focus in on RE as a money making vehicle, the more I suddenly run into people who are investing or know someone.

You can take the cash flow and invest it in other vehicles over time as well.