Here are the numbers:$30k - avg monthly income3 options for rent vs buying$12.5k - avg monthly payment (20% down) on $2mil home$6.25k - avg monthly rent on $2mil home$6.25k - avg monthly payment (71.5% down) on $2mil home3 options for return on capital:7% - avg yearly return on 71.5% down payment (assuming 5% avg yearly appreciation in SD)10% - avg yearly return on from S&P 500>10% - avg yearly return on investment property (just an assumption, but I think you are all here because you beat the stock market)First, the $12.5k monthly is very intimidating and beyond what I should be spending on shelter (a no-go for me)

After spending 25 years as a Software Engineering and Product leader, I’m now exploring the world of real estate investing (REI) and looking forward to learning from all of you.My goal is to leverage my current investments and savings to build a real estate portfolio that will eventually allow me to transition away from my current career.

Most owners who do it want to keep the option of having the building vacant when they eventually sell the place since vacant places sell much more easily then tenant-occupied ones if it's a rent controlled building.

Also, the idea separating them is so you don't accidentally spend them and then no way to pay it back when the time comes.Some states if you don't refund the security deposit within X amount of days, the penality is that you will have to pay back the security deposit x2. 

california has had statewide rent control on mf units for ~5 years.My experience with rent control is that in the near term rents increase more than without rent control.

If I'm spending 500k... my profit should be higher? 

If possible, you may want to learn in a place where you don't need to spend $750k on a fixer. 

There are controllers on each end for 1-player or 2-player games, then a second set of controls on the side for head-to-head games like Street Fighter.We have a cheat-sheet with instructions under the glass, and we have a book with laminated pages that lists the instructions and the games.

Read "Long-Distance Real Estate Investing" by David Greene, then spend some time reading through the forums.

I’m based out of Lehi, Utah, and have always been fascinated by the potential of real estate to create opportunities and build wealth.After spending time learning about the industry and what it takes to succeed, I’m ready to dive in and start making deals happen!