As recently as three years ago I overheard a lender telling a pregnant woman that she couldn't get a mortgage until she had a baby, returned to work, and got her first pay-stub -- that's break room BS that's probably from 1955 that is still being repeated!

Hi Dan,It's all math baby!

Some people jump right in after reading a few books, others take a while to get educated first and start with baby steps first. 

On top of the fact that you have some little baby $300k mortgage on Silicon Valley real estate, there's a little thing in California called Proposition 13 which makes long-term ownership of residential real estate tax advantaged.

Most investors start in the business as wholesalers and then move into fix and flips after they have done a few deals and met some more people that will help them as they take baby steps within their own comfort zone. 

I was planning to start a new load for the 2nd house but both working parent with a newborn baby was a struggle. so I decided to left my job. which I think was the bad decision because now I know that I can't get the 2nd house to invest as I wish. sum this up, me and my husband, we both can't get a new home loan.

If it were me personally, I would leverage up to 70%, pay myself with debt, and let the tenants pay those babies down. 

I currently am working the Dave Ramsey baby steps so that once I am debt free, I can use my current income to create future income.  

We are all about baby steps but keep your eye on the ball!

BAM BABY!