Cash is great to have on hand, but remember that cash is always losing value when sitting in a bank or under a mattress (and this loss is accelerating).

The LOC sits unused without any interest, waiting to be spent instantly when I have a deal.

I prefer the LOC because it sits dormant until you need the money quickly.

If they don’t, most of your houses will sit empty, leading to significant income loss.

Not that long ago, I recall hundreds of homes in the Smokies that were short sales.  

If you get a decent job and a good lender with low down or zero down options, you could get to own something that likely will only appreciate and allow you to rent out rooms or move out and get another and another and another throughout your 20’s.  It’s

We are way over budget (I estimated 40-45K, we are currently sitting at 60K and are not even done) and way over time.

DSCR would need to sit at 1.1 or higher based off the apprised market rent. 

It's better to rent at a reduced price of 20% than to sit vacant for two months.

Still possible to find a "good deal", and with vacancy rates sitting at 0.9% (as of Fall 2020).