I can increase or decrease the amount of money we keep based on the amount of maintenance / mgmt.

My question regards the subject of LeverageIs it true by increasing the amount of funds borrowed and decreasing the amount of funds invested in a property you can actually earn a higher rate of return on your invested capital?

The article focuses in particular in Chicago, which has the added headwind of decreasing population, though some people in the comments say that this is a "tale of two cities" issue, where population and rents are rising in certain parts of the city and declining in others.Also, so far, rents continue to grow in smaller cities . . .Here's the link.

Holding a flip for thatblong really decreases your annualized return on investment too so consider that. 

Most areas cash flow pretty well, but there are some areas that look attractive on paper and seem okay with the visual test, but the areas are actually headed in the wrong direction and property values/rent are decreasing due to crime in the area, etc. 

I had to borrow against my equity via a HELOC to keep the ship afloat, and when the market decreased the prices and my inflated equity dried up...Well, let's just say it was not pretty.So I can believe that you have done all your due diligence in outlining the numbers and analyzing the deal, and like you say, since you don't need to do a deal just because you want one, why not pass and continue to look for an investment that works for you financially and personally?

Realize if you hold longer, the total return will likely increase, but the annualized return will likely decrease.

In that post I let the other OP, who posted a very similar question, know that if you add an ADU to a 2-4 unit, or multiple ADUs to a SFR, the property can no longer be financed by Agency backed 30YF good loans, and talked a bit about how that can drastically decrease the market value of the property.

Regarding the estimate of $5870 I know this is just an estimate, but how likely is this number going to increase/decrease? 

Will they increase, decrease or stay the same?