If you look at prior years, the pattern is pretty clear.

1. Subject-to was repackaged as new, while the real risks around due-on-sale, insurance, and long-term liability were rarely emphasized, also highlighted as "creative finance".

2. Short-term rental arbitrage was sold as controlling assets with no capital, until regulation, lease enforcement, and seasonality showed up, especially during covid.

3.Wholesaling on the MLS promised volume over skill, as quick dollars.

None of these were new strategies. They were timing plays, marketed hardest to rookies about "anyone can do this with no money"

What will it be this year. My guess: this year’s version will likely be the same strategies with a new wrapper: AI-powered real estate investing.

Expect claims around AI finding deals, underwriting instantly, or replacing experience with automation. Tools can improve efficiency, but they do not change risk, capital costs, or market cycles. Bad assumptions move faster with software.

The constant is that real estate rewards discipline, capital structure, and downside management. Shiny objects tend to reward marketing skill instead.

If a training avoids discussing what happens when a deal underperforms, that is usually the real signal to avoid.