This is where I started as well, and then about 5 years later I was able to leave my W2.

It’s a balancing act of controlling costs while also controlling risk of personal injury to your tenants and property visitors as well as maintaining goodwill with all involved at the properties. 

@Ashley MierezConsider your margin dollars as well.

The short version: save money while educating yourself on how to invest in real estate wisely, buy an investment property, learn how to manage it well while educating yourself on how to manage it better, save money . . . rinse and repeat.You don't mention where you are (education, income, experience, etc.) or where you want to go, so I can't tell you how to get there.

Do you know the other markets well? 

Some people online (I’d be especially wary of prior Quest employees who were long ago let go as well as opportunistic custodian vultures) are being real a**hats & throwing tantrums over that…along with Quincy under the bus.

ya Open door capital struggles are well documented..

Also Minoan has so many companies to choose from which makes it confusing if you don't know the suppliers well.

I have my personal emergency fund stored away in a HYSA, and am working to build up a15k property reserve as well, but am conflicted on where to keep that 15k. 

I am not worried so much about maximizing it rather than that it gives me a bit; because as more of the estimated $150000 property mortgage I want to take is paid down, the numbers get a bit better with appreciation as well.