:D  Costs you almost nothing, and will pay big dividends in the long run.Stay safe and healthy up there in Seattle (we were just there a few months ago).  

WHY would you have to have rates at or near zero in a healthy economy??

i support having C/D class paid for  assuming thats what you run in Milwaukee.. as for letting us old folks kack off cant get behind that one  :)  you know 65 is the new 45. 65 is absolutely the new 45 and you'll be just fine - I suggest a healthy diet!

Although maybe kept him healthy. 

I'm still buying, though.I'm also looking heavily at the electrical utility sector because a lot of those companies are at a 30%+ discount now, and they pay healthy dividends. 

My approach was/is as follows:Buy solid properties in good areas.I would put as much cash down as needed to ensure a positive cash flow.I wanted to buy the property and then have it pay for itself no matter what.That means having a healthy cash flow "on paper" so that when Murphy shows up, I don't have to panic and come out of pocket for expenses.If some cases, this meant 30% down in others it was 50% down.I know that's not sexy, it is not some slick house hack.But it is solid, time tested and proven.In doing so, I never had to worry about the property.I made the investment put enough cash down to provide a solid excess to pay for the unexpected.And then I let the market, time, mortgage paydown, and inflation do its thing.

We usually have a fairly healthy reserve which is essentially our set asides for maintenance, capex and so forth.

I learned that I underestimated the cost of the bills I would but the predicted cash flow was healthy (3x the monthly cash flow on average).  

I want my and my investors' capital to GROW through value-adds and through appreciation (since I buy in growing areas)...and while waiting to sell, me and my investors want to get paid a healthy cashflow.

@Zachary SchimenzSo first off, congrats on making a move towards becoming a real estate investor and creating a soon to be healthy portfolio.