Also, what is the most effective way to leverage this home in the future to purchase another assuming you would recommend I buy this one? Not only does it allow you to enter your maintenance and vacancies into the calculator, but it also gives you a table with suggested values based on the age and condition of the home. I recently talked to a new REI who owns about 15 rentals in WInnipeg and he said his strategy is to buy high quality rentals that Net zero cash-flow. I understand the strategies covered in the book do not cover any areas on the east. Other factors that are out of your control include real estate taxes and property insurance. If you want to pay off the loan early, you can, but you can also keep saving up money to invest and you should be able to invest it at a higher rate than the interest rate on the loan.