So for example I'm very conservative and don't want any debt on them because I feel this hardens them in case of a severe recession.

That's before you pay any debt service.To answer your question: No, it's generally not a good idea to lose a bunch of money every month.

The denominator in the calculation is your capital/equity and with no debt the return on your existing equity is low.

Do they have any debtJust because you are a note fund does not mean you do not have debt.

I am looking for any recommendations on how to properly scale this idea over the first few years conservatively and not wanting to over use leverage and debt by starting small in duplex and being open to triple/quadplex in the future if the right opportunity presents itself.

If you are open to non-traditional methods of financing, you could use a debt service loan to bypass that requirement.

I have 880 credit score, decent savings, and no other debt except for 300K mortgage on my primary residence (worth $1.5 million).

@Aristotle KumpisWe do 10+ Flips/BRRRRs annually and fund with Hard Money and Private Money.Hard Money will fund 90% of the purchase price and 100% of the rehab on a draw schedule.Our Private investors will fund the remaining 10% of the purchase price, the first portion of the rehab (to be drawn later from the HML), and the holding costs.Of course, with private lenders, you must give up equity or a return on the debt.

I’ve taken care of all my debt and am pre-approved for roughly $220,000.

However, deeds in lieu of foreclosure can be subject to judicial attack by their grantors and their grantors' creditors.Grounds for attacks on deeds in lieu of foreclosure include the following:• That the deed was an equitable mortgage - that the parties intended the deed to be given as security for a debt and that the deed was not an absolute conveyance.• That the deed is either a preferential or fraudulent transaction within the purview of the provisions of the federal Bankruptcy Act or any other related state law.• That the deed is a device to clog a mortgagor's right of redemption.• Unfairness of the consideration.• Coercion, fraud, oppression, duress, and undue influence.• That the deed is not subsequent to the execution of the mortgage but contemporaneous with it.• That the grantor/mortgagor was insolvent at the time of the execution of the deed.An estoppel affidavit (executed and acknowledged by the grantor/mortgagor, attesting to the fairness of the transaction, the consideration exchanged, the value of the property, and other factors showing an intention to make a genuine transfer) or a recital (inserted directly in the deed) are supporting documents used to forestall challenges to these transactions.State law and local title standards must be consulted in regard to the consideration and treatment of deeds in lieu of foreclosure.What a GREAT post!