Look at rentals in your market and see what is EXPECTED from the kind of rental you are trying to create.

Most buyers don't have the money to come in with to pay down payments, plus commissions in this market, so I don't expect a lot to change.

I like the Ocala market but not sure if this is a good opportunity and if the Ocala market is a good one for REI.

Made good money for a while then the market turned and he lost a lot of coin ...  

San Jose is obviously a tough market to start in for cash flow - are you looking at any remote investing markets/strategies?

@Marc Shin Beware of the ever increasing property taxes in the North Texas markets.

Off market deal that I was approached on by someone I have done deals with in the past.

Our town just did a revaluation and got close to 100% but the market constantly changes and prices continue to trend upwards meaning the 100% valuation is likely already not accurate.

Given that he's got a long history in business but is struggling to cover $30k in Op-ex and marketing spend, my guess is that this is either not very well managed or is in distress.

Evaluate the rental market in your area to determine the optimal configuration for maximizing rental income.The choice between using cash flow from your current house to cover expenses or pay off the mortgage faster depends on your long-term financial goals and risk tolerance.