Wow was I in for a surprise.

You'd be surprised how many folks close to you are interested in RE OR are already involved in RE to some degree. 

You'd be surprised how you can get some nice 7 nighters 8 or 9 months our and it really helps! 

There are also numerous other factors that contribute to the equation as well, such as the market you're interested in or even unexpected malfunctions that you will need to be prepared for financially. 5k is a great start though.

EDUCATE YOURSELF - yes, it will take time, but will lead to a selection that better meets your expectations & avoids potentially costly surprises!

(For SF rentals, the odds are surprisingly low if you are managing your business properly.)

I know Keith personally I would be surprised if he had a collection situation that was not perfected.

In addition, some reserves should be available to handle any large unexpected issues that crop up before money accumulates to pay for it.

While the project was successful, navigating unexpected costs required flexibility and careful oversight.

While the project was profitable, managing unexpected costs required careful oversight.