Since we are taxed on the interest portion of the repayment, the further towards the end, the lower the % of the P+I payment that is interest. 

Unless the property is on a waterway or lake, I would look for another property.BUT, its a different story when you can step out back, lower your boat. 

But with that being said - would you rather go in white collar areas with a higher risk of tenants losing their high income or should it be a blue-collar area where jobs are more stable, but cash flow is lower?

I would only be aggressive with leverage if you were really comfortable with the actual investment and it was a lower risk opportunity otherwise it could all blow up in your face.So if you go by the math alone- leverage, leverage, leverage.

As many of you are aware, if you own a building in your own name, 1-4 units, you can often get great "FNMA type" financing where you get a decent interest rate, lower DP, and literally locked in with no rate changes for 30 years.

When you raise rents each year starting out at lower rents you tend to still be the best priced in town.Conversely the higher priced rents the property tends to be extra special, or a new build with amenities,etc.

One, that is 10k more than mine, and another one that is 15K lower, but needs a lot of improvements. 

I understand hard money can close quickly but if I had the 25% I would just continue to use my portfolio lender who charges much lower rates. 

I can refinance my first-and-only current rental property to lower my overall payment by a couple hundred per month and get rid of PMI, but I'm not sure what to do after that.

(Want lower down payment).Also can i get a conventional loan for a home im going to live in for less than the 20% i normally pay ?