I apologize for coming at you, but I think the whole 2% rule thing is dangerous and should not be glorified on here.

More doors (more streams of income, vacancy has smaller impact), less roofs (fewer capital expenses).  

With fewer lots, its harder to spread out cap ex expenses and that can really kill your cashflow. 

Maybe fewer tenants to manage?  

Great friend & we have been warned about the dangers of living with a close friend but we want to try because we believe we can.

I don't know many people that accumulate a large amount of single families and don't eventually want to simplify into fewer properties but more doors.  

Hopefully with lots of reading and paying attention to other members experiences you'll alleviate some of your fears and make fewer mistakes than we all did! 

This would increase your cash flow eventually, lower your risk/debt and make managing easier; being you have fewer properties.

My dilemma is that we have a great commute now and are in a newer house so there are fewer repairs, which I like... whereas most of the construction in the surrounding areas near our work is older.

Then follow up 3 days prior and every day after that.If your partner doesn't want to do cash-for-keys, frankly, he or she is a fool who runs their business based on emotion, and that's dangerous.