Eddie contrasts note investing favorably with rental properties (rent houses), noting that inflation has eroded rental cash flow to around 4% in many markets due to rising expenses like taxes, insurance, and maintenance, while notes offer higher yields with less hassle—no tenants, toilets, or 2 AM calls. He highlights low-risk strategies via his risk blueprint for underwriting (targeting 3-5% default rates, far better than FHA loans at 11% delinquency), focusing on notes with strong equity cushions (often <70% loan-to-value), and using third-party servicers for compliance and collections. Leverage is accessible even for beginners with limited capital, including through self-directed IRAs (his wife Martha's "Martha Model" exemplifies this for retirement and legacy building), enabling scaled portfolios with spreads over borrowing costs.