Assuming 5-8k in closing costs and 20% down, that's a 40-55k property with nothing left over.

And let me tell you she wasn't kidding. 

If another same-model house has 10 occupants between grandma, grandpa, mom, dad, 4 kids, brother + wife + 2 kids in the same 5-6 bedroom house, why would zoning go out of their way to pick on 4-6 single professionals earning probably 250k+ jointly and being very "green" through their low-carbon living that's kicking their student debt in the teeth?

Just kidding, I appreciate the shout out my friend ;-) I am not as well versed in many markets like @Jay Hinrichs but as an older guy who has seen a few ups and downs but only in the SF Bay Area I can throw in my two cents. 

Examples of a well-thought-out Whys:“Real estate investing will pay for my kids’ college and allow them to graduate debt free.”

Kidding aside, there are so many different ways this could go wrong that I can't even begin to enumerate them.

As an aside when I was a kid we had 2 hounds that were re-homed and found their way back from 50 miles took them 2 days!

Since I have a full time job and kids It is important that the rental is not that far from where I live Maia.

She makes $6,000 a month from those investments and not only lives comfortably, she is able to travel every couple months to see kids/grandkids, take vacations, or do whatever she wants AND she is still saving money every month.My goals were not his goals.

I live in a college town and with all the kids gone.