However, I do like the idea of bringing less cash to the table.Any thoughts between these two options?

So why not put that money to work and start building up some cash flow?

If the answer is yes, then it's a no brainer to make minimum payments on your 2.8% interest rate mortgage, and use the funds that you would have paid extra to pay it down faster, to either invest in more real estate, the market, or anywhere else where you can get a ROI > 2.8%.If the answer is no, then feel free to aggressively pay it down as fast as possible, to become debt-free faster, and just have a large amount of money in savings or to splurge with.The bottom line is that your 2.8% mortgage is GOOD debt.

If you buy in a good market, appreciation will beat cash flow every time. 

This will be negative cash flow if using sustained maintenance /cap ex.

To get access to the maximum amount of equity, I would recommend Tower Credit Union.

I wouldn't go negative unless i was so confident I could take on that amount like maybe 50-100$ a month.

Purchase price: $395,000 Cash invested: $39,500 We were dreamed buying home in California, but we just turned our around.

If you aren't paying cash and are doing owner occupancy you may be able to use FHA instead of Conventional with a higher down payment. 

Rent, Expenses, NOI, Cash Flow, COCR, Cap Rate, Market cap rate.