Our total monthly cash flow is $28 (living for free, plus $28 - this factors vacancy and collection loss, mortgages, reserves for replacement, etc. - I'm the appraiser...).We have nearly saved up $140,000, which happens to be about 20% for the new listing.

Hey everyone!I'm a Mechanical Engineer studying to get an MS in Aerospace Engineering.  I make decent money as an Engineer, but I don't love the idea of being in an office my whole life.  I want to get into Real Estat...

I have purchased three properties totaling four units in the last 13 months, all off of the MLS. 

.: $60.00Management @ 10%: $380.00 P&I (30 yr, 4.5% estimate): $871.50Property Taxes: $220.00***Total Monthly Cashflow using 50% Rule: $1028.50

The letter states move in date (which they have wrong by 4 years), original deposit of 475.00, then total deductions of 8000 (which they also added wrong, they added 100 nonrefundable  pet deposit and 7000 Nicotine Smoke Damages to arrive at total of 8k), with an asterisk stating *Pending additional  charges to be determined.  

I’ve got 11 total units so the big software options aren’t really what I’m looking for.Thanks!

That is called OSB ( oriented strand board) and is mostly used for sheathing on the outside of the house under the siding. the problem with putting Spackle over it to try and hide it is that the moisture from the Spackle may get into the board and start to de-laminate it. if it is only 3'-4' high, you can dress it up with some sheets of 1/4" bead board, if it's the total wall you can cover it with 1/4" drywall. look at it this way, there is no way a tenant will put a hole through those walls after you cover it, i would consider having that a plus.

.)$620.33 MONTHLY EXPENSES$379.67 MONTHLY CASHFLOW9.17% PRO FORMA CAP$8,712.00 NOI$20,100.00 TOTAL CASH NEEDED22.67% CASH ON CASH ROI9.90%PURCHASE CAP RATEAccording to the numbers I think it'd be a great investment if I could find a way to get the $20,100 I need.

Using terms like "total rehab" or "cosmetic rehab" or "carpet and paint job" might be just as good as a tidy number. 

You are totally right though, even though I feel that I am cautious I just can't have the same level of caution and fear that others who lived through 08 have.