As a financial planner, I generally recommend clients build up a personal emergency reserve before investing.

What’s a good rule of thumb to follow when starting a business or owning multiple properties for how much you should set cash aside to go towards the mortgage, expenses, emergencies and paying yourself?

Louis doesn’t align with your investment goals, consider other viable options such as expanding your portfolio in NJ, exploring emerging markets, or diversifying into commercial real estate.Feel free to reach out for more personalized advice and to explore the best financing options for your investment strategy. 

We recently found a licensed contractor reasonable enough that we now call him for things that aren't an emergency, initially saved us thousands off management's estimate for repairs due to a break-in during a turnover (apparently management calls an outside contractor to quote potential insurance claim repairs, and he was beyond ridiculously expensive).

We see a lot of non-performing notes in the Cook County area and the discounts are tempting but the picture that's emerging is explaining a lot of that.Are investors actively buying at the foreclosure sales?

Now you could keep 1 boiler and put in a coil in the ductwork and use it as emergency heat . 

Perhaps instead of buying 4 properties you should only buy 3 with the theoretical $100,000 and keep the extra money in reserve for emergencies, etc. 

They also provide an after hours phone line to report emergencies.

@Keaton VolsTo expand your real estate portfolio and achieve financial growth, consider refinancing your property, saving for a down payment, implementing house hacking, partnering, exploring markets, building a network, educating yourself, diversifying into alternative investments, maximizing tax benefits, and maintaining an emergency fund.

But per lot it will cost roughly the following:$1,500 Electrical poles, meter installation $2,000 water taps and connections$5,000 grading and land prep$8,000 septic installation (assuming a 1:1 ratio of homes to 1000 gallon septics)$5,000 down payment on each home ($700-750 / thereafter per unit)$21,500 total set up x 17 = $365,000Ongoing expenses after development would look something this for POH model: $12,750 a month in mobile home mortgages (17 x 750 for PITI on each unit) $1,900 a month in land mortgage PITI (house) $3,000 a month landscaping$2,000 a month in reserve emergency fund$2,200 management$21,850 a month total expenses $262,200‬/yearOngoing incomes after development would look something this for POH model:$27,000/month ($1500 x 18 {17 mobile homes plus house})$324,000/year324k-262,2k = 61,800 net pre-tax profit or $5,150/month.Opportunities to reduce start up expenses: Bulk deals with the government or contractors for doing all the work at once (electrical, water, land grading, septic) Trade free rent for someone to mow and landscape (turning a $3k event into a $650 event every month).