Need Some Advise Regarding My 2 Investments

[Kenneth Lim]

Hi guys, I'd greatly appreciate some advise regarding the 2 investments that I have on hand right now. I'm still a rookie, not much of a experience and I'm still learning along the way. I've read and study alot about investing on my own. I learnt how to live below my salary, put away about 50% of what I make every month on my day job and invested the money I saved.

Here goes, I rented 2 shops in a shopping mall from the landlord and paid the landlord 2 months deposit, settled the paperworks and took the 2 contracts. Due to it's prime location, the 2 shops were rented out the very next day. Till now, both shops have been rented out for 4 months on a 1 year contract.

Amount Invested In 2 Shops: USD4,300
Monthly Revenues From 2 Shops: USD1,030
Monthly Operating Cost For 2 Shops: USD750
Monthly Cashflow From 2 Shops: USD280
R.O.I: 78%

Question: According to my calculations, which I could be wrong, if 2 shops are vacant for a month, it'd take about 4 months of my monthly cashflow (USD280 x 4 months) to pay the landlord (USD1,030). Is this the way how this game is being played?

In my senerio, I treated the landlord as my bank. I meant if I were to take a mortgage from the bank to buy a house for investment, I still got to make payment to the bank every month. I understand that end of the day, I do not own the properties except the cashflow that it generates out from my initial investment USD4,300.