One month of vacancy will cost you $2,600 + $200 utilities.

and also like what I do Utilize as STRs: You furnish and list these properties as short-term rentals (STRs) on platforms like Booking.com or Airbnb.Generate Cash Flow: The higher rental income from STRs, compared to long-term rentals, allows you to cover your mortgage/lease payments, generate positive cash flow, and potentially have funds left over for further investments.Positive Cash Flow: STRs often generate higher rental income than long-term rentals, allowing you to cover your costs and potentially profit.Tax Advantages: You can often deduct expenses related to your STR business, such as mortgage interest, property taxes, and maintenance costs.

All-In Costs & Profitability-ARV: $450K-Purchase Price (financed): $170K-Repairs: $150K-Holding Costs & Financing: ~$20K–$30K (insurance, taxes, utilities, interest, etc.)

I believe you can also utilize an independent savings account, but you should check with the bank to make sure.

The investor would buy an ugly black box that produced money if it was the right price.

In almost all cases when investors first come to us we say utilize the conventional route as much as you can. 

That way you have a home base that isn't sitting vacant and you are producing income. 

Utilizing the many resources to analyze deals and help find investor friendly professionals in your area has helped me tremendously.  

I suspect your underwriting will show that RE in San Diego without leverage will not produce the return that you will desire.Note at 80% LTV, the appreciation return is 5X.  5.82% long termappreciation (the rate for this century) * 5 (leverage multiplier at 80% LTV) to the cash flow 4.8% and we get 29.1% return from appreciation. 

It's more about how to multiply the number of homes producing that cashflow.Bless