Plus, holding onto it gives you a buffer if the market shifts.

New investors get way too stuck on LLC setups and the like when they really don't have anything worth taking, and those with loans have partners that provide some buffer anyway - the bank, who's going to end up with the property if anyone sues you successfully enough to get a judgement, which means it will be the rare attorney who even takes the case. 

Just make sure to include a buffer (about 10-15%) for unexpected costs, especially if you’re working on an older home.

A couple expense assumptions:Insurance: .6% of market value per year ($1300 to $1700 for garden variety SFH)Repair buffer: $50/moPM: 8% of gross rent + 80% of first months rent HOA: Ranges from $0 to $50/mo.

And also try to prepare a buffer for unexpected issues (there's always something!).

Add 25 percent buffer.

6% Cap => $54k/0.06 => $900kThen I'd bake in 15% buffer for repairs => $900k*.85 = $765k

I want an additional buffer of income by the time 2025 rolls around, or earlier, to secure this financial independence.  

I put 2k as a buffer.   

I listed the property for rent and had a viewing and subsequent application to rent the next day at full asking price, providing a 30% buffer over PITI obligations to account for all expenses.