You touched on this slightly, but may need more expanding: personality. I would never be able to deal with the idea of someone living in a place that I own. Right now, my family are good tenants, but we're thinking of buy a home and one idea that's come up is to buy a duplex. First, they're more expensive then a second family, have more regulations you have to follow depending on where you live, must live in a place where there are a large amount of renters, and finally - you must be able to deal with the potential BS of another person. Rather not get into it at all. Why complicate my life more than it already is? This might be blanket advice - but for most people getting a high-interest money market or savings account + robo investment platform is a good place to start. Especially if you don't have the stomach to watch stocks all day or deal with tenants. Some people got it, some people don't.