Plus it's a lot less expensive on short notice emergency type situations, which is what new investors fear most.So it really all depends on your comfort level.

But when the engine catches fire, you better have someone who knows how to handle the emergency under pressure.

Then send out regular correspondence letting them know how your business is going* Most people are interested in RE in one way or another* Don’t let anything stop you from buying a deal * Find the deal, then be determined to find it * How to help a property manager without being licensed yourself — show properties, handle tenant phone calls, contract services* Look into property management requirements * Emerging real estate markets — David Linder* ABC’s of real estate investing — Ken Mackelroy——————————————Ep 249 Josh Daniels * Live-in flip — more time to work on things, not in a hurry * 2 of last 5 year rule — able to sell tax free* Multi family units will have more trouble with tenants sharing walls — expect more drama* SFR’s attract families vs apts that attract a different crowd * Multi-family — more entitled feeling people, and rightly so as you’re responsible for the place* SFR people tend to care for the property more * SFR — tenants are responsible for the property (mowing eg) and utilities* Keep emotions out of the buying process — have neutral parties keep you in check* HELOC — use to buy properties with all cash.

Anyways, this was a HomeServe call and they initially indicated that they were unsure/doubtful they needed to respond to the situation because it was non-emergency. 

You shouldn't see the deductible as anything but true emergencies, so maybe it's a mentality thing with how you view it?  

This has to be done  as part of the entitlement process.This is a snap shot from San Jose, CAResidential      Emergency residential shelter C C C C Section 20.80.500Live/workS S S  Section 20.80.740Mixed use residential/commercial C C C Note 6The "C"s mean conditional, so you would need to get a conditional use permit for residential.Many planning departments have the ability to do a "dry run" of the approval process to find out what doesn't work in your proposed plan.Consider that this sounds like a multi-unit building so there maybe a construction loan used, which converts to permanent financing when it's sold.

My goals at this point are to educate myself, pay debts and set aside 60k for an emergency fund and down payment on our first unit.

I just read a post about how it was hard for some people to even come up with $400 in case of an emergency.

Again, you can do this in your own market as well if you step back and find emerging sub-markets instead of focusing on the areas, where every other investor seem to focus. 

I have a great cleaning crew, an emergency handyman, and have sourced the usual other resources necessary over the past 3 years.