I don't build in excessive vacancy numbers or maintenance - that's rookie stuff; you can gauge it fairly accurately without betting against yourself.There's more to it before I actually invest but a quick 'why bother' review enables me to move on when a deal really isn't.Hope this helps...

@William A. imo we have a moral obligation to care for our parents/spouses parents within reason if we have the means and they do what they are able to do financially, in other words, without enabling them.

So much so, that it actually enabled us to relocate to Orange Beach earlier this year.  

I know that my knowledge, experience managing large projects and budgets, and drive to succeed will enable me to be a positive contributor to the real estate investing community.

As long as you have a process that enables you to account for what money belongs to what tenant, you can keep all the funds in one account.

This also enables you to focus on your move and your new job.

I am student at Purdue University beyond eager for Real Estate investing, trying to enable my girlfriend and I to live a financially free life as soon as possible since we are all about family. 

You may not want to hear this, but you have enabled their behaviour.You should think of tenants not as your customers as most people assume, but as your employees.

Owner occupied buyers are able to capture a lower interest rate and a lower down payment (3.5-5 % down, which might give you cash left over or enable you to raise your purchase price to beat out cash buyers).

It seems to me that younger amortized notes are going to be more desirable, as the UPB stays high in those early years, enabling the lender to collect more interest (and is a reason why loan modifications are desired outcomes, because it resets the amortization schedule).