These have short maturities (typically 3 years) and that means that the timing for a sale or refinance is fixed, and not far enough out to know that you have plenty of time for a market recovery.Evan covered the rest of it well.

Get as long of a mortgage as possible (eg 25-30 year mortgage) to make your payments lower.If you are buying to rent it and won't be living in it, you need 20% for a down payment.Either way, you also need money set aside for closing costs, inspections, repairs and maintenance...and if you are renting it out to cover vacancies.

Adding a 5-10 unit will increase your expense exposure initially until you raise rents to cover costs. 

Hey @Lotus Eli, @John Underwood covered a lot of it, but it really depends on the area.You need to do a lot more if the area doesn't have something else to offer.For example, the big potato.

Here’s why:Cash Flow: A 4-plex offers four rental incomes versus two in a duplex, which can significantly boost your cash flow and help cover vacancies or unexpected expenses.Financing: For a 4-plex, you can still take advantage of residential financing (which tends to have lower rates) compared to commercial loans.

Because I'm buying at such a good price, the seller will not pay for the roof.

Because if the mechanicals need protection from the locals, the renters must feel the need for protection from them also.Just my 2 cents. the issue with dogs is the windows are removed and the metal window coverings have holes in them to allow circulation. so in the winter in Chicago its freezing in those houses so they have to use portable lights and portable heaters to work inside.. its truly a shame that its come to this for rehabbers and builders..

If one of the roommates (tenants) moved out the others had to cover the difference in rent or find a replacement tenant.

Indeed, with a 3.5% down payment, a house that costs $714,286 would conceivably have the down payment completely covered by this program.

My tenant of 1 year just moved out recently (work transfer), but during the move-out inspection we found that one of the 10X10 bedroom has all four side of the wall covered in screw holes from the time they used it as a computer room (I believe the holes were from the sound deadening foam that they used to attach to the wall) So I was wondering what would seem to be a fairly reasonable cost to be deducted from their Security Deposit for the excessive holes and needing to repaint.