My recommendation is to save money through your W2 until you not only have enough for a down payment but a reserve for repairs as well.

Hi All, and thank you for your help in advance. I have an opportunity to purchase an investment property that is NOT ON THE MARKET yet. Here are some of its vitals:- Zestimate: $345K (I know this is typically 10% or s...

Quote from @Jeffrey Bourque: Hello All, I am new and this is my first attempt at purchasing a property with the intent to create monthly cash flow.The property: Triplex Listed at $140,000 - Total monthly rent income $2,150 - Tenants want to stay and are all willing to sign new leases for 3 years - 8 beds 5 baths and 3,500sqft livable space on a 4,800sqft lot - Heat and electric paid by tenants and water trash paid by owner $180 month - I have managed to talk the selling price down to $105,000 with a kick of $10,000 for closing and commissions so $115,000 all in - Building is in fairly good shape according to pictures and questions but have not done a inspection yet - some general maintenance repairs are needed according to the seller but nothing that seems to bother the tenants. - Taxes are on the higher side at $6,000 yearMy Numbers: $115,000 putting 20% of my money $23,000 and finance the rest with total expense of $1,834Monthly expense numbers: Future Maintenance 13% $273 - Vacancy 5% $105 - Property Insurance 5% $105 - Property Taxes 23% $500 - Property management 10% $215 - Office/Travel/Legal 4% $84 - Mortgage 26% $552 - Monthly Cash Flow - $316 per month or $3,792 per year so Cash on Cash = 17%I think this looks like it is a deal worth doing and I also believe I can bump the total rent up by $50 each tenant which I think make it even better.

All this to say your repair partner is going to be crucial to your success. 

I’d recommend something like the tenant is responsible for the first $500, $750, or whatever in repairs for each occurrence.

I've found an off-market property that would require $175k purchase, $35k down, $20k in repairs, with a conservative ARV of $235k. 

House needs some Interior Cosmetic Work, Wood Fence Repairs and some Plumbing Work.I want to turn and run, but I recently heard where there is a Problem, there is Opportunity.I thought this might be an interesting Case Study.Thanks for the Ideas.If they owe $180k on a $210k property and its a year+ behind then they probably owe taxes and other bills as well.

It puts a face to management and allows to open doors for repairs if need be and makes them aware of who owns property now.

Although the list may seem intensive, I look at it like this: The total cost of all these items can be much lower than the cost to repair a hidden surprise after purchasing a property to flip. 

Landlord will promptly respond to Tenant request for repairs but will not be monetarily responsible for tenant disruptions or inconveniences during habitable times of repairs or tenant/guest injuries incurred in or around obvious areas of maintenance, repairs, or construction.We are more converned about them expecting us to pay for their losses rather than getting recouped for damages to our property.