If someone has something intelligent or constructive to add,  I'll happily respond. 

I personally recommend against maximizing your leverage but using some judiciously I feel is an intelligent choice.

It is great that you two have already got to spend time travelling Europe and are already planning for your financial future at a young age (I wish I had been that intelligent...).

Maybe you can get them lower, but you may also find that what you're seeing is artificially low for any number of reasons.

Because I consider him to be one of the most intelligent, "business minded" people I know.

Of course, both were intelligent, gorgeous and had great self esteem.

All the answers you received are logical and reasonable, but unless you tell us what the conservative ARV is for this property, how can anyone provide even a remotely intelligent reponse?

Aren't the banks keeping housing prices artificially high by hanging on to inventory?

To be fair, of all the RE TV shows, these numbers are much more close to real because they include selling and holding costs where other shows never do which artificially inflates profits.One thing I have noticed recently that is so far off is their - "everyday beyond the 7 days costs us $750 per day".

I could save money and artificially inflate my ROE by doing things like painting my rentals and other things... but I don't enjoy that sort of stuff at all and would consider that effort/work.