If you can hang on, w-2 income is consistent and safe when a bank looks at you and is deciding, if, how much, and at what rate to lend you money.

During this time you can read and learn about real estate investing, and then when you are in a position where it is safe to begin investing, you are already prepared.

Do you find 2% is safe / keeps up with inflation for that long of time ?

To clean up the property and make sure it is safe to use, you need a specialist who knows how to handle those types of chemicals.

Good luck and come home safe. 

Hi Jamal, It may be just be me but I would double the vacancy and repairs & Maintenance percentage just to be safe, it will help you in the long run to do that now.

@Aidan MulliganYes it is a duplex, and I am playing safe with rent but it can definitely be higher.

I feel like I made good decisions on work that needed to be completed in order to make the house presentable, safe, and keep a tight budget.

Besides, at this point you can claim you're heavily medicated and your mind is not so clear.Bid the old tenants goodbye from your deathbed, if they create trouble leaving ask them piteously over the phone, your voice quavering, how they could possibly treat a man so near his end with such callousness and could they please make extra sure they take away ALL their crap and you'll put in a good word for them with the Maker upstairs.Once the old tenants are safely gone, you'll experience a miraculous remission thanks to a new drug trial you just got on in time and explain to your new tenants in the 3 br that all is peachy for the long haul as you show potential new tenants the 2br.

This safe guards the landlord during the legal process so the tenant cannot claim that the landlord automatically received a false payment from the evicted tenant after the notice was served.