Does $xxx work for their budget?"

Very helpfulRe: 15% it can be a good rule of thumb, but understand that every project may break that rule due to specific issues (title, environmental, local government, design, etc.) but yes your permits, arch, legal shouldn't be blowing up your budget at 25% off the bat.

Small towns with more affordable properties for my budget. 

Use a HELOC as either a down payment or rehab budget on the new property, and use OPM for whichever other piece we need.3) Stay in primary residence and update it with HELOC; use only OPM for new property.Thanks for any advice!

Use a HELOC as either a down payment or rehab budget on the new property, and use OPM for whichever other piece we need.3) Stay in primary residence and update it with HELOC; use only OPM for new property.Thanks for any advice!

Just so you know what you're getting into.Add in a budget for initial repairs.

Your repair budget is $100 per month.

Here's the math I did:MonthlyIncomeRent $12,000 ($1,500 a door)less monthly Operating Expense$5,613 (including vacancy factor $600, property taxes $1,333, insurance $560, maintenance $960, management $1,200, replacement reserves $960) which fits almost 50% ruleThen, Net Operating Income (NOI) $6,386.67/monthless monthly Debt Payment$4,816.79 (based on purchase $905,000 w 20% down, estimated 7% interest rate on a 30-year loan)CashFlow$1,569.88/month (on average $196 a door)Total Investment: $198,000 (including $181,000 for 20% down plus $10,000 for repair budget and $7000 for closing assuming Seller doesn't help with the closing cost)Cash on cash Return: 9.5%DSCR (NOI/Debt payment): 1.33Cap Rate: 8.4% (I used purchase price $905,000 plus repair budget $10,000 for the market value)Thank you so much!

Here's the math I did:MonthlyIncomeRent$12,000 ($1,500 a door)less monthly Operating Expense$5,613 (including vacancy factor$600, property taxes$1,333, insurance$560, maintenance$960, management$1,200, replacement reserves $960) which fits almost 50% ruleThen, Net Operating Income (NOI)$6,386.67/monthless monthly Debt Payment$4,816.79 (based on purchase $905,000 w 20% down, estimated 7% interest rate on a 30-year loan)CashFlow$1,569.88/month (on average $196 a door)Total Investment: $198,000 (including $181,000 for 20% down plus $10,000 for repair budget and $7000 for closing assuming Seller doesn't help with the closing cost)Cash on cash Return: 9.5%DSCR (NOI/Debt payment): 1.33Cap Rate: 8.4% (I used purchase price $905,000 plus repair budget $10,000 for the market value)Thank you so much!

Here's the math I did:MonthlyIncomeRent$12,000 ($1,500 a door)less monthly Operating Expense$5,613 (including vacancy factor$600, property taxes$1,333, insurance$560, maintenance$960, management$1,200, replacement reserves $960) which fits almost 50% ruleThen, Net Operating Income (NOI)$6,386.67/monthless monthly Debt Payment$4,816.79 (based on purchase $905,000 w 20% down, estimated 7% interest rate on a 30-year loan)CashFlow$1,569.88/month (on average $196 a door)Total Investment: $198,000 (including $181,000 for 20% down plus $10,000 for repair budget and $7000 for closing assuming Seller doesn't help with the closing cost)Cash on cash Return: 9.5%DSCR (NOI/Debt payment): 1.33Cap Rate: 8.4% (I used purchase price $905,000 plus repair budget $10,000 for the market value)Thank you so much!