If, a year from now, you have an extra $20k piled up because you have been serious about this, it established a bit of a track record and proves that you are a doer and not just a dreamer.I would also express gratitude that you have a partner that is so cautious.

This provides extra peace of mind in case your upleg does not work out or the seller or lender will not deal.4) Truly retire for real estate ownership.

The extra 1050 a month definitely helped with the bank.

While I believe that breed-specific legislation is wrong, I also believe that, if you own a controversial breed, then you need to be an extra-responsible owner.  

Think about all the extra time trouble and cost it takes to turn an ordinary house into a vacation rental...just my two cents though...

The reality is the opposite - if it's not in writing then the PMC doesn't have to provide the service or can charge extra for it!

Unless you are planning on investing in your back yard and have extra time to spend, getting a good PM is very important.  

They'll have the same issue with the next buyer and you can always come back in a few months and make them a much lower offer once the property has fallen out of contract a few times and they are extra motivated to sell.   

And really, any ARV over $800k is extra "cash out" for you. 

Give them a little extra motivation to maximize property income and keep things running smooth like butter.