ROI vs. Cash Flow

[Mark Murray]

Hello again everyone!

I apologize in advance, as I am new to the game of real estate and am trying to get in the mind of matured investors. Hopefully what is below makes sense. 

Curious to whom would rather prefer increased cash flow or a higher ROI. I have been running numbers on a particular property, and since my mind just circles around and around on certain ideas/topics throughout the day, I was curious to who prefers what?

This property would give me an 12% ROI with 10% down. This was calculated with both the 5% vacancy rate & repair cost, taxes, PMI, & Home Ins. However, this will give me about 80.00-85.00 less a month in Cash flow compared to the 20% down with an 8% ROI.

I understand higher ROI means you are making your money work better for you, but everything I have read talks about how cash flow is key. Is it better to do the 20% down with lower ROI and higher cash flow, just to reinvest back into the property for a faster equity build? Or take the higher ROI and 10% down and do something else with the other 10%? Maybe it depends on length of investment?

I assume it depends on the goal of the investor.... 

On another note, in your opinion, what is a good cash flow number?

Thank You!

Mark