@Alex Pura Any property cashflowing that negatively and you hoping for big appreciate is called gambling.

Have around (over) $1M just sitting there in cash that you can write a check for.Then continue to save and begin looking for your purchase.in 4.5 years your ROI on the triplex, so there is that cash flow (and some will say the equity in the triplex, but do you want to gamble that on a new purchase).If you partner you will ave to cut the partner in on a percent of the deal equity and cash flow.just my 2 cents.

There are markets where the numbers work way better if you want cash flow with less gambling.

and refunds to guests2) Hire amazing people - cleaners, handyman, recruit some neighbors to help fill in the gaps, & self-manage or hire an offshore VA to manage the property if you'd rather make yourself rich instead of making a local property manager rich (more on that here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/... )And make sure that your cleaners and handyman are not only doing a top-notch job of keeping the house in pristine condition, but they are also reporting to you (or to your PM or to your offshore asst) every little thing that needs to be upgraded or replaced so that you can stay on top of it and take care of things before you hear it from your guests in the form of guest complaints and bad reviews.

Every real estate deal is a gamble and has the potential to have a "mess" become time consuming and expensive.

I understand in your market you are forced to gamble on appreciation. 

Wall st Law firm.. but it turned out to be yet another off shore lending scam.. man they are good at what they do.

I would not compare it to Vegas style gambling but I get your point. 

Best partners are people that have been doing it a long time and have good relationships with local government officials that are under pressure to increase housing options.If you have all of those things you are just gambling that the market will stay strong long enough to get your return.Be careful with the 'we just sit on it for a few years'.

It's a gamble about parties, unit damage, etc.