It depends on many factors: net worth, risk tolerance, future goals.

I know that your question is sincere and people often ask the same question.The problem is you don't give us any idea of your goals, you resources, your location, how reliable your friends are, whether you like the type of investing, how much time you are willing to spend on managing the properties, what you risk tolerance is (sometimes people lose money), etc, etcSo, no one knows the answer to your questions but you.

@Jesse Wolf ultimately, this depends on your goal, the type of living situation you want and your level of risk tolerance.

Both have risk...both have reward as others have mentioned above knowledge about your area and your talents and your risk tolerance are the tools to aqquire first.

I'd do a ton of research and pick the strategies that best suit your end goal, risk tolerance, and create the time wealth that you're looking for ultimately. 

We also tolerated literally hundreds of emails and voicemails, berating us and our team members...usually written in the middle of the night. 

Mistake # 2 tolerating any delay.  

Illegals, bad credit, evictions, criminals, S8, what is your standard of risk tolerance.

I no longer tolerate late rent, I thoroughly screen my tenants (background, criminal, credit) and I make sure to keep organized and detailed records for all of my properties should I have to go to court.

If you want to grow fast you must have a very high tolerance to risk and be very good at operating a business.