By taking on the responsibility of paying for the downpayments yourself, you may be limiting your ability to negotiate for better terms or find more competitive financing options.

If you're looking to house hack, this could be a viable option; otherwise, most lenders still require 20%+ down for small multifamily deals.

One option I am trying to decide on is whether or not I should purchase the house myself as an investment property with the intention of either renting it out or fixing it up and selling it.  

I am starting to grow my rental portfolio and am looking for online alternatives to hold security deposits.

I wont be needing 70k upfront thats for sure, so it is a cheaper option for me.  

Additionally, investors can hire a property manager to handle day-to-day operations, freeing up their time and allowing for truly passive income.2.Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)REITs are a passive investment option that allows investors to purchase shares in a company that owns and manages a portfolio of income-producing real estate properties.

Cash gives you options. 

I know it wasn't one of the options but... 

It sounds like you're weighing your options pretty carefully.

@Kyle Deutschmann want to chat about options for hard money