If you have a cash flowing asset you can hold onto it indefinitely, if you have negative cashflow and are hoping for appreciation you will end up being a forced seller in a down market.

Your other expenses further net you into the negatives. 

Its about being conscious or aware of the present and not going to fare into negative thoughts.

Positive adjustment for the extra GLA, negative adjustment for lack of two car garage.

Even at $1,400 /m rent, its still negative cash flow.

@Kimberly McCall hi, welcome, @Dan Gamache numbers provided above are statistically accurate.One thing that I should mention as an alternative, if you own your home, is a HELOC.

Anything lower than that for a 1-4 unit residential property and you will most likely cash flow negative unless you have a large down payment (20% or more), do all your own management and maintenance (hey, I thought you wanted to be a real estate investor, not a jack of all trades handyman/property manager!) 

I also discuss with new agents what I am looking for in terms of cashflow or return or some mix and the wanna be agents seem to always bring me properties that have significantly negative cashflow and then can't answer any questions as to why they brought that particular property to me.I am needless to say, frustrated.  

Some buyers try to use this as a metric for an offer, so if you decide to sell the negative would be a potential (often uninformed) buyer trying to use that to low-ball you.

The only downsides are that it negatively effects your DTI and you are paying on the loan if you are using the $$ or not (vs a line of credit).