I’ve consulted several different people and they have told me in my situation as an investor expanding their portfolio it makes more sense to keep the extra cash as opposed to paying down rentals.

A simple baseline plan might’ve steered him toward properties with more reliable maintenace histories or a stronger neighborhood profile, saving him a lot of sweat.

I know this is a higher mortgage, especially for a first house, but does it make sense?

Doesn't make any sense.

It makes sense. 

A lot of young professionals like this area so furnishings should be modern and "upper-middle end", if that makes sense.

If you can't double your nightly with the bigger place, then the smaller place makes sense.

To support your point, wouldn't it make more sense to cite an example in which the payments were being made, but the lender still called the loan?

A person get's a sense of walking through via the order and angels of the photos.

Do any of these locations make sense to you?