and - if 35K is everything you've got - savings, emergency fund, money for real estate... that is not a huge cushion. 

They are for holding that property only - that money IS your cash flow. 

This has dissipated, and that irresponsible crowd has largely lost their money and motivation.

For me it boils down to more of a personal decision - can I afford two homes, do I want to have two homes and the stress of it, or just take my money out of one and put it in another.

I had a 1031 exchange money to buy an investment property and did not want another fixer upper, so I decided to get a new home that was move-in ready.

If you're looking for ways to accelerate, consider these options:Seller Financing – Some sellers may finance a portion of the purchase price, reducing your need for a large down payment.DSCR Loans – These loans focus on property cash flow rather than personal income, often requiring only 15% down.Private Money Lenders – If you can find a PML willing to work with you, you may be able to put less down.Partnerships – If you’re open to splitting profits, you could bring in a partner who funds the down payment.Since you’re okay with the slower path, just keep stacking cash, but these might be worth exploring to move faster!

The guy is meeting the rental criteria income wise.

  ( keep buyers from wasting money on DD i suspect)3.

that money is not the same as cash... you're paying interest on it.but let me know if i am missing something.

An example of this would be mixing your personal money and LLC money in the same bank account.3.