@Giovanni LunaYou're playing with the big boys on a deal this size.

Also, the type of loan you are getting plays a big role.

@Pavel Jiltsov If you are looking to buy in DC then you have to be ready to pay to play.

I like the idea of getting homes paid off, enjoying the benefits during retirement and then passing them along to my kids when I’m dead and gone or using it to fund their education, help them purchase their first home, etc.... not totally agains it though.

But just as I dont feel bad for a thief being robbed, I dont feel bad for a landlord that tries to skirt the system, and then gets played by the same system he's trying to skirt.Do things right, and these things arent an issue

This former "dead equity" has been temporarily redeployed in a high-yield savings account paying a 2% rate of interest at the moment.

Play with it.

I have invested out of state, the values of my homes increased tremendously but rents did not so I sold it all and am looking for long term plays here. 

Equity is dead and has the exact same face value as the cash you used to buy the equity...it's just in a different location.Eighth, Appreciation is exactly the same for the $20k property and the $100k property. 

I'm also scared playing those inflated prices in case the market does settle a bit.