How many investment properties is too many?

[Lilith7]

No, if she had been able to buy I think she would have. Those of us blessed enough to have partners, and good jobs, and to raise families within those well resourced circumstances sometimes assume everyone is so lucky.

Fact is a lot of people aren't. And most of them are women. Usually raising children on their own. The cost of doing that is a lifetime of debt. It is a pity we don't teach our children about that risk, along with other life lessons.

Its more often the woman who takes on any children if there's a relationship breakdown, so those doing the bringing up of children will in most instances have less opportunity to earn higher incomes, they may only be able to work part time, & if female  they'll have lower wages & more expense than will single people or a childless couple, & usually that's long term.
So realistically unless they're extremely fortunate they'll have less chance of buying a house & have no option but to be long term renters.