To me the key is to make sure that the property is at least cash flow neutral from day 1 including all the reserves for future CapEx, otherwise you will be dieing the death of a thousand cuts.If you have a specific deal you're looking at I'd be happy to help you evaluate it in terms of your investment goals.Good hunting-Giovanni

I wonder if people can comment on two strategies and how they might interact with certain lifestyle design desires.The two strategies are staying cash flow positive or neutral in order to play the long run appreciation game, and going for higher cash flow right off the bat, but perhaps sacrificing some long term appreciation.

beautiful, very neutral appeals to all sorts of buyers!

Also do you use one neutral color for the whole unit or do a couple different colors?

If it is positive you have a chance if you manage it right.So, if you had on the same property a cap rate of 7% the interest only loan would be neutral to you at the end of the day.

White ordinarily is used for neutral.

And I would certainly look at cash flow neutral to a little negative ... then I would do what I could to hook up with someone like Minh Le and get in on his partnership deals that are multi family.. or some other syndicator type.

Also, the eviction courts have gone from neutral to pro tenants.  

I'm in Los Angeles, what would you do with a leveraged $60K in LA that is either cashflow positive, or cashflow neutral as an appreciation play?

In my opinion, hiring your wife is tax neutral as far as the payroll taxes go.