It drives higher quality and causes less stress when you hold rentals. 

Until I’ve walked the property, reviewed systems, and understood tenant quality, the only honest way to get to a rough number is applying a percentage proxy.

You can also do this via LTR and do the live-in BRRRR method. 

And while nothing is foolproof the most consistent method of finding good vendors is relying on OTHER people that have worked with those vendors.

Before offering my perspective, I should mention that I’ve built a 9-property portfolio using the BRRRR method (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat).

Where my roadblock comes is that I have read on this forum a number of times that using a HELOC for a down payment can quickly over lever a person and that is something I don’t want to do.I have thought about DSCR loans, house hacking, BRRR (I love the idea but not so sure the wife would love it with the construction, especially if it is a house hack as well), and a few other methods of acquiring my next property.

I'll try some of the methods you describe in your comments this year and then also analyze them more rigorously and see where they stand.

This was demoralizing and had us scrutinizing every guest.Enabling the security deposit allowed us to relax and stop second guessing the quality of our guests. 

Take your time analyzing deals and prioritize quality over quantity, it’ll save headaches and protect your cash flow.

Most opt for the lowest cost option which inherently attracts the lowest quality agents- not who you want to associate with.