Be patient, take your time and gradually move some of these funds into these solid niches.

I was hesitant to pull out cash through a refi since my rate is at 4% now, and I have some savings and investment accounts for those reserves.My thinking was the interest paid over 1 year of gradually using the line of credit would be far less than loan costs and potentially tripling my current mortgage payment at closing.

I learned a lot from your responses.I agree about thinking of buy/hold properties as a way to develop savings, in that even if they are not putting out a lot of cashflow at first, you are gradually developing equity and hopefully getting appreciation.You are right that 6 months reserve is a decent amount, but I should probably have more.

Yes real estate is a big field, keep reading here and participating and gradually it will become more clear.

lol Never understood the dislike for our market here, while we didnt see the big "boom" other areas did years ago, we didnt get the big bust either, its steady and gradual on the whole but you definitely do need somebody that knows the area well as values change dramatically even street by street.

If your PM only responds to complaints and has no real advice on improvements in practices and procedures going forward your holdings will gradually slip, and maybe even sooner!

Most investors avoid mobile or manufactured housing because these assets are generally considered to be DEPRECIATING assets, like a car - they lose value over time as they are used and gradually "worn out".

After a few years, and after my career continued to gain steam, after my properties produced more and more stable cash flow, and my reserves grew, I'd be able to gradually invest the entire lump sum, in between 3-7 periodic investments, hopefully preventing me from buying all at once at the wrong time in the market (almost no one can successfully time the market). 

And the loan rate can only move up 2% per year, so there is time to gradually push the increases through your leases.

I don't want to hijack this topic but this Cash-Flow vs Appreciation debate , buta) does have proponents for the other side of the coin.b) cash-flow comes monthly if you bought wellc) appreciations is gradual, annual if at all and can not be guaranteedSo both opinions are presented to the OP and let's not rewrite War & Peace over it.