HI Robert,There are several ways to run and make sure you are maximizing your rental income while keeping your living expense as low as possible.

If you're a single mom with student loans, a car payment, and living paycheck-to-paycheck, then $20,000 would be devastating and a reserve is critical.

Finding maintenance issues prior to them becoming a larger problem (water leaks, pipes, roof etc.).

We lived in it almost 2 years while working on it.

Which neighborhoods are close to where you want to live? 

If you can live in it.  

It reminds me of Bruce Lee's quote, "Be Like Water."

After making what seemed to be an endless amount of offers in this hot market, with a lucky turn of events of a sellers contact falling through due to the first place buyer unable to to afford financing.

@Steve Vaughan That is awesome you're getting paid to live in your housing situation!

My goals are grand, ambitious, and future proof.I plan to build affordable homes in a way that is self sustaining, and desired by many.I plan to invest into Single family homes, and multi family homes to get the individuals who live in them a better life.I live in Utah, so the market is not the best.