Educating yourself and being deliberate will increase your likelihood of success and accelerate building wealth.

However I'd add that you should deliberately invest time in networking.

He is extremely petty (deliberate noise violation). 

You hit a point I've been deliberating on as well, the question of buying for equity vs cash flow and the ability to convert / restructure to cash flow heavier when/if necessary, having grown equity position. 

Deliberately have a few challenges in your screening process - it will weed out "entitlement mentality" problems4) Allow payment plans, but create system to track when payments due, so they don't keep falling further behind You will need to call them on due dates or they will fall further behind Be prepared to give a strong NO when asked if you will change rent due dates to "make it easier" for tenants to pay rent based upon their SSI or paycheck dates.

Also meant to add that if you're a first time homebuyer in New York, NY has programs you might qualify for, check out this site:https://hcr.ny.gov/SONYMA/The first time homebuyer mortgages are available at banks like JPMorgan Chase. 

Deliberately have a few challenges in your screening process - it will weed out "entitlement mentality" problems4) Allow payment plans, but create system to track when payments due, so they don't keep falling further behind You will need to call them on due dates or they will fall further behind Be prepared to give a strong NO when asked if you will change rent due dates to "make it easier" for tenants to pay rent based upon their SSI or paycheck dates.

Otherwise it could get drawn out and they may damage your property deliberately. 

Either way, I'd suggest seeking counsel from multiple professionals and making a slow, deliberate, and well thought out decision.

My gut is telling me to complete the license even though I don’t have a deliberate plan drawn out yet.