I’m an agent working here in the Triad, and the past few months almost every investor I talk to is focused on the same three things:

1. Reliable rent comps (they don’t want inflated numbers)

2. Neighborhood stability (tenant quality + long-term demand)

3. Realistic renovation budgets (labor costs have not gone down)

What I tell people is simple:
The deals are still here, but you have to buy based on what the numbers are today — not what they were in 2021.

For the experienced investors here:
What’s the biggest thing you look for in a buy & hold property in 2025?