How Much Should You Put Down on Your First Rental?

Dave Meyer and Henry answer listener questions from the BiggerPockets Forums, covering key decisions for new real estate investors. They discuss how to allocate a large down payment, the viability of house hacking with minimal cash in an uncertain market, whether to use a 1031 exchange to convert a flip into rentals, and when to cut losses on a troublesome property. Their advice emphasizes conservative underwriting, diversification of capital, and avoiding speculative bets on future appreciation.