IDK just a thought, otherwise as a landlord you have to be careful of how much you spend to fix up your places, the value may not be there in the end and you will lose out.

Our goal is to own a few free and clear...the cash flow will be amazing -  Aloha,JeffJeff, do you really want to lose 2016 dollars just to get it back in 2044 dollars as what you are incorrectly calling increased cash flow? 

If the property sustains uninsured damage, the buyer may lose incentive to pay, ask you to accept less money, or even abandon the property, again leading to foreclosure.

I got a busines degree in college with emphasis in real estate, in 1980.  

Don't lose sight of the fact that most o the wealth created in real estate is from investors, not commissions.  

I agree with Mike but my though also is that it is generally a bad idea to lose a garage in favor of living space.

I also have a college degree in business with an emphasis in real estate.

I don't put much emphasis on the score because hat could mean the person loves to use credit a lot and borrows all the time and has a lot of available credit.

Zoomed out to the 10 year time-frame, you aren't going to make or lose money by having or not having an escrow account, except for that small amount of closing costs difference.

@henry r.I inherited a Sec 8 tenant in my first property that I also occupied, and quickly learned that it's similar to unemployment standards in that if you lose your job, you need to prove that you are at least looking for a job to get renewed.