The only thing I would change if it was me would be to leverage the million you want to have in the bank and buy real estate along the way instead of squirreling the money into the bank.

In this case, squirrel.

I will be focusing from the Squirrel Hill Tunnel area out to the eastern area of Murrysville.  

We had squirreled away some savings and I called mortgage brokers until I found one that was willing to do the 203k loan for me.

For those who have the space or the option squirreling away as previously suggested appliances, water heaters, ac units, bulk hardware, lighting, circulating pumps, cabinets and standardizing maintenance specs can be very effective to EOY reports.

As long as you don’t over leverage and there are no fundamental changes to your market (think the biggest employer closing etc.) you will be okay.Make sure to have enough cash reserves (or access to them) to help pay for any unplanned events.

Unplanned life inconveniences happen. 

You can squirrel away money multiple ways that you can tap into for real estate investments.  

Bottom line is hyper conservative investors receiving minimum ROI by squirreling their cash away in a property may sleep well at night but I sleep very well reassured that I will not lose my cash in a real estate market shift.

I mean just check out any real estate within walking distance of a Jewish community center or temple I don't know if you remember from when you were here, Jay, but in Squirrel Hill, the location game is almost completely about whether the property is inside the structure of the Pittsburgh eruv or not.