You'll like also need reserves of at least 6-12 months worth of PITI (principal, interest, taxes and insurance.) 5+ units can require more down, but 25%-35% is common.

Your sibling can either take the cash for their 30% or they could do a 1031 of their own.If you and your wife file a married joint tax return then the IRS sees you as the same taxpayer. 

If you have reserves, can you invest the money that provides a better NET return (after tax) than putting it into the down payment3.

But right now, it feels like I am solely holding these properties just to pay their maintenance company. 

If that number is greater than the purchase price of the house, then I would consider buying the property after looking at other factors (location, condition, neighborhood, zoning, etc).In other words, 6 straight months of rent should pay for the house. 

It’s a bit of a learning curve, but can be worth it for the potential benefits.As always, chat with a tax professional to make sure you’re on the right track and taking full advantage of the benefits.

If someone struggles with a non-paying renter, they won't come to the "starting out" forum and read a bunch of stories that may not pertain to them.

First property purchase, didn’t want to pay mortgage so decided to house hack.

The home is 1,841 square feet and was constructed in 2009.The use of the accelerated depreciation strategy helps real estate investors to reduce the tax liability immediately which therefore increases their bottom line due to the offsetting of income.

You're going to pay for education one way or the other.