@Matthew Shay, I'm trying to think of a good reason why you would care to correlate the two and I can't really think of one.

Some investors do not want to own 100% directly do spreadsheet investing where they invest 100k here and 100k there etc.So many variables to go over and it just can't be covered fully in a forum thread post.Be careful on multifamily.

Their point was pulling out the initial cash reduced risk, which assumes all you care about is the initial cash.

Be careful renting to friends and don't cut a deal renting to friends of friends.

Purchase price: $195,000 Cash invested: $1 This is a well-cared for triplex in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia.

I upped my offer by 3k, wrote a personal letter with a family photo, (did this because when speaking to the listing agent I found out the tenants cried when they learned the current owners were selling, so I knew emotion might be in play and wanted to let them know we are a young local family that care about our tenants). 

Also depending on the area, your customer/tenant demographic might be young adults and schools might not be as important as a solid coffee shop, or young families that *do* care about good school ratings, etc...

I currently get child care assistance ( I get about 660 a month of assistance from that), and student loan payments that are based on my income (currently making $19 payments based on my income). 

Who cares in you get 90% of nothing.

White All you care about it getting a loan using your house a collateral