The comparison isn't between losing $20,000 at once, or a slow bleed of $2500/year.  

Any bit of moisture in laminate will swell the joints.

So if I’m stuck holding it a minimum of 4 months, how do I minimize the cash bleeding and any vacancy based deterioration.

If you can't, they you can and will bleed you dry.

Practically speaking, here is how that goes:  cash buyers will kick your a$$ on most deals, so be prepared, properties cash-flow better with 25% down, either spend it upfront in repairs/upgrades (good ones, not crap) or be prepared to bleed it out on maintenance, and (this one is important) if your property maintenance schedule/budget (you don't have one?  

We're seeing major major tech players move in and take up shop in the bleeding edges of urban chic all over the area, turning the city into a major new tech hub.

A good property manager is golden, a bad one will bleed you dry each month.During my PCS moves or deployments i used to use "good ole boy network" for property management.

@Bill S. Well

If the cost of the money (or debt) is considered, they are BLEEDING CASH!!!

Poppycock.The injunction — which mortgage experts said appeared to be the nation's first court-ordered stop for an entire state — prevents judges in South Carolina from finalizing foreclosure sales on properties guaranteed by Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae or any other mortgage company that has signed on to a federal assistance program.It's an attempt, originated by Fannie Mae, to slow or forestall their bleeding and consuming even more taxpayer money.