I have also prioritized getting the business selected as a preferred HUB vendor by public agencies like City of Austin, UT, Austin ISD etc. so that we win more bond program construction projects, since those have committed capital from federal and state dollars and not as likely to be paused if the economy slows down. 

@Elijah Faas if your mom would also agree to be a safety net should you need help paying mortgage or fixing something large, then I think 10k is more than enough to house hack.

The police, the building and safety, etc all administrations in south LA are highly disfunctional and neglecting. 

It is more than ROI proving to yourself you can prioritize spending. 

It is a line of credit and a good safety net for unseen expenses until you build reserves back up (piece of mind). 

@Mary MitchellAlways because of safety and I can do it easilyCouple minute project for peace of mind

For example: 1) Ellis Act - removing rental units off the market or 2) A health & safety issue that poses an imminent threat to tenants or neighboring residents.

California Must Prioritize Housing Affordability.

My problem now is that I have found some others that are good and will cash flow but I don't really want to just pay cash and loss all my safety net.

Money orders and checks can be electronically deposited (or mailed), thus no need to count it, check it, and make a special trip to a bank over it.2) Safety - rental offices are an easy target.