Newbie question! Balancing Cash Flow vs. Loan Payoff

[Amanda Westland]

Hi all! I am new to this group, and have a loan refinancing question. When evaluating your loan vs. your rental income, is it better to get a longer-term loan (i.e. 30 years) and have higher cash flow versus a shorter-term loan (i.e. 15 years) and have negative cash flow but pay off the loan quicker. 

Does anyone have advice on how to balance these decisions? 

Thank you!

[Mike Wilkinson]

@Amanda Westland I hate to be this guy, but it depends! How long before you'd like to be semi-retired? Do you enjoy your career? I think that age and when you'd like to use the cashflow is very important. Many folks on BP seem to be in the leverage, leverage, leverage mindset. I would rather have a simple, low leverage portfolio later than some cashflow and a bunch of headaches now and later.