The biggest employer shut down about a year ago and 3  hurricanes (2 major) hit directly in the last year.

Real estate investing has been a passion of mine for time with my mother also having invested early on where I likely have gotten the love and desire to follow similar foot steps.I have taken last 6 months to educate myself and currently own a single family home as primary residence and would like to expand to multi family properties (2-4 units) for additional stream of income, not to mention potential tax benefits for long-term investing.Based on current living situation, I have a fair amount of equity established in my primary residency along with having enough cash to either pay off house completely or use towards investing in a multi family property.Given that I'm the sole source of income for our household with my wife being the home maker for our two kids under 2, trying to weigh out risks with getting started now or perhaps waiting. 

Quote from @Bob Asad: If I have 2 rental properties and charging 1st, last, and security; can I take the last and security for both places (combined) and put them into a Bank of America savings account?

Apparently, because rates increased here so astronomically in the last 2 years, the insurance industry believes their numbers are correct with the risk.If you have the correct coverage @Marc Shin, you should be covered (although you should also have budgeted or baked-in costs for minor issues/damage).

Some, like the last one we got in place, used a drive by estimate of value rather than a full interior appraisal.  

Consider the "2 of the last 5 year rule" to avoid capital gains. 

My last deal was an exact wrap at 3.5% granted I had to put $80k down to pull it off, but it’s a great way to keep the train on the tracks.  

One last question - is your assistant actually hand writing the envelop?

My last visit was in 2021 and owners were limited to one guest per month.

that we’ve learned in our 24 years, managing almost 700 doors across the Metro Detroit area, including almost 100 S8 leases:Class A Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, 3-5 years for positive cashflow, but you get highest relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% the more recent norm.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 680+ (roughly 5% probability of default), zero evictions in last 7 years.Class B Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, decent amount of relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% should be applied only if proper research done to support.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 620-680 (around 10% probability of default), some blemishes, but should have no evictions in last 5 yearsClass C Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, high cashflow and at the lower end of relative rent & value appreciation.