No matter where you choose to invest, please keep in mind the following (copy & paste):--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Recommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a Class A property in Class D area, what quality of tenant will you get?

The essentials classes are  $2000, & if you add the advanced like fish & flip, multifamily, is another $6k.

With historical inflation in mind, that mortgage is essentially an asset.

Given appreciation is typically where you are making most of your return in any real estate, having this additional appreciation helps create much higher returns.Additionally, my single family tenants, typically stay a couple years longer than my duplex tenants.  

Typically they tend to cash flow well so a 4 unit might hit those 1% rule.I'd also highly recommend local real estate meetups, as you'll get local insights

No, lenders typically don’t require that.

I have made a lot of money in RE and negative cash flow is not a criteria that i typically ponder.  

If you're planning to use an FHA loan or another owner-occupant loan, there are typically rules about tenant occupancy.

Essentially, you have to spend your own money and complete work on the property prior to reimbursing yourself out of the escrowed rehab budget.The draw process typically takes 5-7 days from initial request, to scheduling an inspection, and finally for the lender to wire those funds to you after your work is confirmed by the inspector.

@Ash Gowda - typically a 1.3-1.35 dscr.  5/7/10 (all dependent upon the lease term and re-ups); Rates fluctuate but for now from low to high 6's fixed.