This necessitates expanding slower than most people would like but it helps to prevent your investments from collapsing.

Because, if a 1099 "contractor" (home depot parking lot day laborer/craigslist gig worker) gets injured and gets denied a WC claim because I was legit paying him 1099, then he would want to sue me to get his medical and liabiltiies. 

$1MM liability per person seems rather steep, but I'm not an insurance person and I do know medical bills can ramp up quite quickly.

@Alice McWilliams Have you looked into marketing to medical professionals?  

If your goal is a slower timetable, then that might work for you.But as you advance in your real estate investment career, presumably you are successful and have a less reliance of financing.hopefully you reach the point where everything is self financed, 0% financed.In the mean time, I still say borrow as much as you can for as long as you can (with caveats), and that today's historic interest rates won't last forever, so take advantage of them while you can, they won't last.Millions of dollars of debt can be a burden, ask me how I know that one.

Basic medical, food, and shelter are not provided.

We would only use it for a major catastrophe (massive medical expense, loss of job for extended period, etc.), not for something that we should have planned for (new roof, car repair, etc.).

That policy protected walls, plumbing, etc up to about 30% of my loan value...and it had small coverage amounts for medical bills, sewer backup, etc..and that ran $1,300 a year as an occupant.

Due to medical problems a wife collects disability.

We also enjoy Educated Guess, just a little slower.