would you take on a partner

[Mark Cohen]

I am in the process of buying my second rental as a cash purchase (i lack income proof to leverage) and I have just enough for the offer I made and can either 

1 - take on a partner for 10k (friend or family) which would give more breathing space for repairs but I would be giving up equity, 

2 - I can take cash advances from credit cards as I need, it just makes things more tight and pressured. 

has anyone had this dilemma and what would you do?