There is no such absolute rule or mandate for REI - it is up to you on your comfort level with your cash flow versus total investment versus appreciation potential.If I followed that rule, I would have missed out on a LOT of great opportunities over the years.We bought a house in Jones Valley in 2017 with negative cash flow - why? 

This is virtually non-existent with SFH's but is commonplace with 2+ units.

Two repairs can often cost as much as a new unit, and manufacturer warranties can be a headache to use.

Hi folks - I am in the market for a Property Manager in the Rochester area for a 12 unit property.

HiWhen we started out we bought a multi family property and lived in 1 unit.  

Now, in 2024, we're seeing $4,000 per month just on the main unit and $1,800 on the other unit of the duplex.Long story short, it's a long term play.

Consider using an FHA loan to secure a 1–4 unit property with just 3.5% down and take advantage of tax benefits by living there for at least two years.

One effective strategy to maximize unit potential is to explore opportunities for adding extra units, especially in C-Class properties.

Depending on your practice size and income level, you may just want to start with maxing out 401k and also adopting a defined benefit plan before committing to becoming a lifelong real estate investor.  

We run investor relations in house with our company - so I believe this adds another level of transparency when communicating with investors.