You may not have the experience to recognize the Sharks that will start circling you so tread lightly.  

so with my rentals ive been switching all my hot water tanks from gas to electric anytime I can.

In turn, you end up not preparing yourself for when the economy tanks again and you end up being one of the negative statistics everyone hears about, but never think could happen to them.

I paid $200,000 and when the economy tanked this property was well under water.

@Joe Splitrock I'm a big fan of index funds, but part of the risk of investing the $1,000,000 in index funds is what if Murphy's Law takes over and the timing of your investment is sour, and the market tanks by 40% the first year after you invested?  

Therefore, they may be willing to pay $20,000 more for a home than i would, not knowing that the property needs a waterproofing system and mold treatment, or has an underground oil tank, or has termite damage, or ignores the 25 year old roof, water heater, and furnace. 

LoanMod: Hi, (insert bank name here), my client has $45000 in the bank and doesn't want to pay their agreement with you anymore because the market tanked.

you forgot asbestos, lead paint, oil tanks in the ground, Radon.......

My guy does Reid water heaters 40 gallon tanks which are much better quality then anything you can get at the big stores for $800 for everything.

In FL where I buy there is no such thing as an oil tank let alone an in ground one, so that isn't a concern.