I typically round up vacancy to at least 5 to give a buffer. 

My best deals are things that look scary/ominous but are really easy fixes- luv garages that are titling, stucco that is bubbling, bathrooms that obviously are guts ect  so less experienced people run away Or create such a big $ buffer that  they aren’t competitive.  

I am still building my account so for now, I add an additional 8.33% as a conservative buffer.

Eight months worth of reserve is usually enough buffer if I’m in a pinch. 

I've turned to treasuries as buffers in the short term (ie - TLT), yet the market will always rebound (who knows if this is full on Bear or another manufactured correction), I wouldn't abandon the market completely.

Because you can use the 16.5% as a buffer to pay off anything that comes along (maintenance/ fixing/ vacancy/ etc.). 

Turns out it wasn't real estate she was opposed to, it was investing without having a cash buffer in place for the family.We now have funds for investing and separate funds just for family savings.

And I would venture to guess in pretty much all markets we won't see a 30% drop.Low interest rates also help buffer a potential drop as more investors/home buyers will want to take advantage of the insanely low interest rate keeping inventory low.Now... could flippers or new builds potentially be in trouble?

I have been looking into buying in Milwaukee Wi, things there are affordable I have $28k saved up and a lot of the duplexes there are around $60k-300k but how am I suppose to get financing when lenders are requiring a minimum of $175k loans, 9.8% interest rates, and want you to have a buffer of 6 months savings for mortgage.

Memphis/Little Rock), it is common to have a carport instead of a garageD) Year Built: Post 1940s (ideally, but for example my duplex in Indy is 1905, so its also case by case)E) Cash on Cash: 12% or higherF) Rehab including updates to CapEx items 5 years life or less (Water Heater, HVAC, etc.) 10 years life or less (roof)G) Rent to Value Ratio: At least 1% or higher, ideally 1.30% or higher (this is generally a buffer to protect me when the market corrects in the near future)I highly recommend you really invest the couple hundred bucks to fly out there cheap/stay at an airbnb couple days and check out the different providers and their quality of rehabs, as well as see the neighborhoods for yourself.