We are updating all rooms, replacing appliances, roof, flooring, doors and had to fix septic (unexpected cost).  

I'm looking to get involved with meetups and assisting real estate investors for hands-on experience.My current work is in structured cabling (network builds such as; APs, data outlets, switches, etc.) 

As an investor in real estate, what important information would you give to someone just starting out? Let

I would offer them a couple of weeks if free rent as concessions for moving unexpectedly.

I am in the beginning stages of purchasing a multifamily home (Duplex/Triplex/Fourplex) in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, and am torn between paying the 3.5% down payment and pulling all of my savings, or utilizing a down payment assistance program so I have a safety cushion for expected/unexpected expenses.I would love to hear back from the BiggerPockets community on this subject. 

Unless something unexpected happens, the current market numbers and overall economic health of Austin suggests that prices are unlikely to fall significantly from their current levels.

I'd rather save the cash and replace when needed but also don't want to risk an unexpected failure that insurance won't cover.

For example, the operable area of the window must be at least 20"x24" and the sill height can't be higher than 44".Side note - IRC also requires bedrooms to be at least 70 sq. ft. and no less than 7' wide in any dimension, so make sure you're making the room big enough too :) Other things to think about when framing in a new room are light switch locations, adding wall outlets, and HVAC.JD also made a good point with the closet.

What we were trying to avoid is having the 3months of pre-approval run out (let's say Jan if we do it now) and then having to get pre-approved again.

Likewise, if you lived there for less than a year and are moving due to an unexpected event such as an illness, death, or job transfer, then you would likely pass the sniff test for intent.