We were expecting another child, had to get more space so we bought a house and rented out the other.

I can relate to @Dan T. completely as a full-time worker (and part-time second job) with a young child. 

But again it all boils down to happiness and how bad you want something.I'll toot my own horn a minute - I never made more than $60-65k for the most part in a W2 job and for the past 7 years have supported a wife/1 child on that - was able to slowly get some rentals -- not perfect investments but they've paid for themselves - knowing the payoff would be long term. 

It was not that big of a deal to straighten out, but did delay things a few days.I also received a bill for child support once for two kids I never had LOL.  

& Top "Hipster" Destination in the US88 Jobs Paying Higher Wages than New York CityHome to 2nd (soon 1st) Largest University in the US ($7B in Capital Projects & 60,000+ students)Hotbed of Startups and Venture Capital- "Exodus from Silicon Valley"1st "SMART" City in the US ($50m DOT Grant)Intentionally Underbuilding to Hedge Risk...30,000+ units short of demand11-County Region with Huge Room for Growth & Expansion (3million+) over the next 20-years50% of the Columbus Population RentsAll-time Record Low Homeownership for the Millennial Generation (largest population in America-bigger than Baby Boomer population)The Average Market Rent in Columbus has Climbed to $2,000/mo.

My wife and I just had our first child and both work which is why we went with a property manager for the first year. 

Most Mom/Pop is owned by Baby Boomers. 

She had a 3-year old child from another person and she ran away from him, was on her own and was working at an auto part store.Since my employee refused to ask her for a date, I met her at the donut shop and I was filthy dirty with cob webs on my hat because I work underneath a lot of homes.

I have tried influencing both through financial advice and business consulting as this child has a business in addition to a W-2.

Don't forget to check their paystub for garnishments and child support deductions and include those as monthly debts.