In a perfect world, qualified tenant gets in, pays on time, maintenance requests never come in, and emergencies do not happen.

The model won't be perfect, but should be a very helpful decision maker for when you can safely leave your W2 and establish your budget going forward.

Having graduated from BC myself, I understand the charm it holds, which can be perfect for the right person.What year did you graduate? 

Since you mentioned REI Hub, I worked with REI Hub in the past and they had the same connection issues but their CEO is usually good about making quick updates to create a better user experience.That being said, there is no perfect solution out there regarding bank feed connections so I'd go with one you know and ensure the accounts are linked on a weekly basis to be confident every transaction is flowing through without interruptions.

“Perfect BRRRRs” are rare nowadays.

Why Part of a Good Deal is Better Than 100% of No DealHey BiggerPockets Community,As real estate investors, we all want the perfect deal—the one where we control everything, make the most money, and have the best terms.

I don't think your first property needs to be perfect, but doing the work in advance gives you the possibility of refi (in a good rate environment) or more equity on a HELOC.

I am perfectly fine holding X amount in real estate.If I do see an opportunity another option is to lock it up and sell one of my existing if I think this property will perform or appreciate significantly more.

@Nathan Gesner summed up the cash flow scenario perfectly. 

•Mix of Strategies – While it’s known for cash flow, Detroit also has neighborhoods where long-term appreciation is playing out.It’s not a perfect market (no market is), but it definitely deserves a look if you’re open to expanding your list.