What kind of savings do you guys have in addition to the income savings each month? 

Here are a few ideas to explore that might help you get closer to homeownership in San Diego without selling:Cash-Out Refinance:Refinancing one or both of your El Centro properties could free up additional cash for a down payment without selling.

Continue with a viewing, additional questions, get applications, run ALL checks, and then make a decision.By being very clear about requirements, you will catch most early in the process and can let them know.

How do you factor that unknown future expense into the ROI?  

@John BerjIf cash flow is a top priority, factor in HOA fees (common with new builds) and confirm rent comps to ensure the numbers work.

Property manager (PM) 's lawyer continued the case to get the unpaid rent from the tenant.PMA between landlord and property manager(PM) has also expired so landlord got the property back , but when landlord requested to settle the account and the deposit( there is one month deposit from landlord also), PM refuses since the lawsuit is going on with the tenant, Additionally PM is still charging the monthly property management fees from landlord even though landlord is managing the property.Landlord is done dealing with PM and requested the PM to withdraw the lawsuit against the tenant ( landlord is aware that he will loose 2 months rent), PM came back saying they cannot withdraw the lawsuit since that will violate fair housing law.QUESTION:Does withdrawing unpaid rent case against the tenant violate fair housing law ?

To give you an idea of how we approach it, we assume the worst-case scenario right from the start is 9-12 months of no rent, $5,000 in legal fees, and an additional $5,000 in expenses to deal with moving their stuff, putting it in storage, and dealing with health code violations or NOV's from the city during the process. 

I’m talking about getting thorough with expense estimates, factoring in property taxes, insurance, and a cushion for maintenance.

The discipline to run on a budget for a number of years or decades depending on your math, doesn't factor in emergencies or market changes where the HELOC could be used to invest in other places.

There are two main factors that you can use to track gentrification, so why can't they be used to track the reverse?