The other factor to consider is less tangible, but comes with mental security.  

I would likely use the equity to purchase more real estate so I might just 1031 into a new propertyCaveat: I am not a CPA, tax professional, lawyer, IRS afficianado or other expert in taxes, but...If you have lived in the property for two of the last five years, you should be able to capture that $100k in appreciation without needing to go through the hassles of a 1031 exhange.

@Chris SeveneyYesAllOf those things, just don’t forget to have receipts for everything you deduct from the security deposit.

Seriously, you will learn more from listening to experts than you will reading 100 books or taking 100 classes.

They are not experts in plumbing. 

Your property listing can also be a great way to lay out qualifying criteria (i.e credit score minimum, and require a co-signer if lower).After conducting due diligence into a particular tenants situation, and you decided to proceed with an application approval, you could require a higher security deposit. 

I always research companies first before doing business, but that comes from my training and working on security issues, especially after having my sites hacked. 

Quote from @Ryan Smith: Hi everyone,With what's happening in the stock and securities market, now is the best time for many passive investors. 

You can secure a 30 year fixed on a 1-4 unit residential and a commercial building.

Again, and I cannot stress this enough, I am NOT a tax expert on this so you need to talk to a professional.