Uncannily, this is the first time in our married life that we have ever had an emergency fund so that's a plus! 

Uncannily, this is the first time in our married life that we have ever had an emergency fund so that's a plus! 

If you go FHA 3.5%, lock up the remainder in where it will work for you with a level of risk you can stomach and some cash for emergencies.  

Don't compare interest rates, compare velocity.You want to have access to emergency cash for issues with the rental, so you'll always be setting aside a portion of the rent to that purpose rather than paying it back to the mortgage.

I have had excellent results getting emergency rental assistance for tenants.

A tool I have communicated to the cleaners I ultimately did not hire was to ask them if they would be interested in working on an "emergency" basis just in case my new hires are not reliable... they like this opportunity and will likely make it a point to deliver as a chance to win business.

Put 2 show shovels on the front porch with a sign ... " For emergency use only "

In this case, I would recommend you educate yourself on the Emergency Rental Assistance Program where she can apply for up to three months in rent.

As for personal investing, I'm working to grow my portfolio with buy & hold properties in emerging neighborhoods in urban Indy.

When she was born via emergency c-section, I vividly remember them saying "One...One...One" over and over while they worked on her.