I'd hold on to it.

I am going to assume you don't declare that income to the IRS on your tax return and pay the proper amount of taxes on it.If it is not on your last two years of tax returns,you will get no credit for it from the traditional banks and lenders which means you ability to borrow money will be based solely on what little you do declare and have taxed properly.Your savings and checking account s and stock holdings are irrelevant,only your verifiable monthly and yearly income.Your only choice would be a hard money lender at an enormous interest rate.

My husband and i are getting ready to purchase our first 2 investment properties (cash & hold) in November and want to line up a few agents before then. 

And that is exactly why BP has been tremendously helpful, and i would like to go ahead and ask one little favour: I would like to purchase buy and hold properties with a positive cash flow and would like to invest out of state(given the high prices here in CA).

I've been couch surfing (read: bumming) the last year when I am back in the states, and I am incredibly grateful to my kind friends and family, but I can't tell you how old this is getting for all involved.So I decided to settle a bit for now, and find a reasonable home to live in that allows me to easily cover the mortgage, and at the same time continue to save more, and look for another property to buy and hold.

Mortgage on $375K based on 4% for 30 years is $1,790Total Yearly Expense is $29,410 and Monthly expense + Mortgage is $4,241The property is giving income of $5200 a month from all 4 apartments, with monthly Cash flow of under $1,000 a month.Even that Cash flow look very good, the Cap Rate is only 6.28% and COC of 7.67%.Also owner is offering to "hold mortgage for balance" - what does that means?

I'm new to bigger pockets and want to begin investing in buy and hold properties in South Carolina.  

I am trying to define what I am looking for, my avatar for a buy and hold investment in Rio Rancho, NM.

My objective is to buy and hold for the next 10 - 15 years (my timeline is short).  

Anyone would hold until the next upturn.