Cashflow=Rent-PI-Taxes-Insurance)Of course Brandon's approach brings more peace of mind, and make more financial sense, but I would like to hear some different perspectives on how everyone out there is calculating (and taking decisions) around these ...

I guess the word is scaling up..I will do commercial loans until the banks tell me i cant do no mas..Mixed use gotta watch out with insurance, Liability depending whats in the commercial space..but just to get your beak wet you can do 3 to 4 unitsbut if your gut instincts tells you to go higher why not. you only live once.. 

In order to keep the insurance on our duplex, we are having to build handrails around two porch stoops on our duplex.

You'll need to do inspection, loan fees, title insurance, appraisal ect.

Is there a chance the medical provider over-charged or forgot to send it to the insurer?

Discuss price after you skim over what you feel it will cost to make the place safe, insurable.

Over 4 mortgages, the lender will require six months of “reserves,” the principal, interest, taxes and insurance, plus HOA fees for each house.  

You also need errors and omissions insurance, mls access fees, local association fees, state and national fees, continuing education costs, among other costs.

I don't know that area, but $24,000 a year for insurance seems really high.

The stock market plays a role, in that it is people's perception of the health of the economy and some people will use stock market profits to fund a real estate purchase.