To beat 5.25% mortgage rate....the corresponding, offsetting stock market return would be at least double that...To answer your question requires (1) knowing what risk adjusted return you will be able to earn in the future (2) knowing what interest rates will do in the future.  

If you have that experience, you probably don't need much marketing, as sellers will be reaching out to you directly.Focus on securing one listing at a time and building momentum.

It saved me when things got real (hello, crazy boyfriend with trust issues).Security Deposit: Non-NegotiableOne full month of rent as a security deposit (at the very least!)

Separate accounts per property incurs a lot of overhead, such as minimum balances or fees for missing the minimum.I use separate accounts for each tenant's security deposits.

I do have a silent investor, but when it comes to securing funding, it often feels like I’m navigating it alone.

I was hoping for some idea to secure the Promissory Note but it seems that's not available.Thanks for your response. 

Unless the medical condition meets the state criteria for early termination and that the medical notice does not appear to suggest that, you cannot terminate the lease outright/immediately but that you will begin to market the property for rental and upon securing an acceptable tenant, the lease can be terminated pending a satisfactory property walkthrough indicating no damages. 

I know that the general guidance is that emergency funds aren't to be invested, but given our financial security and the fact that we already have a personal e-fund in a safe, non-volatile location, would it still be crazy/unwise to invest this 15k in an S&P500 index fund in a brokerage? 

With the future being so uncertain I realized there was a need to do more than just rely on my job for financial security. 

I should have been more clear...I actually have a BLOC with multiple properties securing the interest.