Another idea that we have been exploring is using the cash value of whole life insurance funds for emergencies. 

Now to the bad news: it is REALLY hard to be a 20yo real estate agent and make a living wage, let alone generate cash for a down payment.

Purchase price: $72,000 Cash invested: $107,600 Case Study: Cockroaches to Cash FlowProperty AcquisitionI found this property through MLS.

Using seller financing allows your in-laws to spread their $217K capital gain over time, reducing their immediate tax burden and helping you conserve cash.

Your cash flow is positive on paper, but how will that look in reality?

Purchase price: $101,000 Cash invested: $25,268 Sale price: $202,000 This was my first ever solo project.

Not possible, 85% max LTV on a purchase or straight refi, 75% max LTV on a cash out refi.

Purchase price: $690,000 Cash invested: $172,500 Took a gamble on a larger single family home in an up and coming master planned community.

It's a decent tool, but as Greg mentioned, I'd definitely plan for a worst case scenario and make sure it cash flows at the highest interest rate juuuust in case. 

There are two types of return from a rental propertyCash Flow & Appreciation.I normally also aim for a minimum of 8% return between Cash-Flow and Appreciation.Appreication, nationally, is around 2% to 3% annually.Therefore, your goal is to get the cash-flow to be about 5% to 6%.The issue is interest rates being very high, you would therefore, need to buy at a pricepoint where the numbers still make sense.You can always put down more of a downpayment to cash flow, but that will impact your cash on cash return calculations.Best of luck!