How Are You Structuring Deals in Today’s Market?

How Are You Structuring Deals in Today’s Market?

Member since 2025 · 15 posts · 6 votes

Hey everyone,

With higher rates, tighter margins, and longer hold times, I’m curious how investors here are adapting their strategies in 2025–2026.

A few questions I’ve been thinking about:

  • Are you underwriting more conservatively, or passing on more deals altogether?

  • How are you budgeting for renovations with labor and material costs still fluctuating?

  • Have you shifted more toward buy-and-hold, or are flips still working in your market?

  • What has helped you protect your downside the most this year?

I’m especially interested in hearing what’s working right now, not just what worked a few years ago. Real-world lessons (wins or mistakes) would be great for newer and experienced investors alike.

Looking forward to learning from the community and the different perspectives here.

Thanks in advance for sharing.

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G. Brian DavisPro Member
Investor · Hatboro, PA · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 842 votes
8mo

I work with a co-investing club where we spread smaller amounts of capital across multiple larger deals, which has been a very effective way for us to stay active and manage risk in today’s market. Having been through many different investing strategies and cycles over the years, I’ve found that adapting structure and staying disciplined with underwriting allows you to keep moving forward, even as conditions change. There are still solid opportunities out there if you stay flexible and intentional with how you deploy capital.

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  • Investor · Get yourself trained before doing something inadvisable. · Member since 2024 · 3k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    8mo
    Quote from @Luis Diego Clare:

    Hey everyone,

    With higher rates, tighter margins, and longer hold times, I’m curious how investors here are adapting their strategies in 2025–2026.

    A few questions I’ve been thinking about:

    • Are you underwriting more conservatively, or passing on more deals altogether?

    • How are you budgeting for renovations with labor and material costs still fluctuating?

    • Have you shifted more toward buy-and-hold, or are flips still working in your market?

    • What has helped you protect your downside the most this year?

    I’m especially interested in hearing what’s working right now, not just what worked a few years ago. Real-world lessons (wins or mistakes) would be great for newer and experienced investors alike.

    Looking forward to learning from the community and the different perspectives here.

    Thanks in advance for sharing.

    You'd be surprised to learn that only a few markets are declining at the moment. Some markets are simply back to normal. I continue to buy using creative financing (that means I don't use banks or much of my own money) to buy. I typically sell on lease option unless I choose to sell outright. I'm a little odd in that I don't often use the MLS. It all depends on what you're ready for. I'm ready if the market changes. My activity increases when markets decline.
    • Member since 2025 · 15 posts · 6 votes
      8mo
      Quote from @Ken M.:
      Quote from @Luis Diego Clare:

      Hey everyone,

      With higher rates, tighter margins, and longer hold times, I’m curious how investors here are adapting their strategies in 2025–2026.

      A few questions I’ve been thinking about:

      • Are you underwriting more conservatively, or passing on more deals altogether?

      • How are you budgeting for renovations with labor and material costs still fluctuating?

      • Have you shifted more toward buy-and-hold, or are flips still working in your market?

      • What has helped you protect your downside the most this year?

      I’m especially interested in hearing what’s working right now, not just what worked a few years ago. Real-world lessons (wins or mistakes) would be great for newer and experienced investors alike.

      Looking forward to learning from the community and the different perspectives here.

      Thanks in advance for sharing.

      You'd be surprised to learn that only a few markets are declining at the moment. Some markets are simply back to normal. I continue to buy using creative financing (that means I don't use banks or much of my own money) to buy. I typically sell on lease option unless I choose to sell outright. I'm a little odd in that I don't often use the MLS. It all depends on what you're ready for. I'm ready if the market changes. My activity increases when markets decline.
      That’s really interesting! I like how you use creative financing/lease options to stay flexible. Smart move adjusting your activity when markets shift. Do you focus on certain types of properties when that happens, or keep it flexible?
    • Investor · Get yourself trained before doing something inadvisable. · Member since 2024 · 3k+ posts · 1k+ votes
      8mo
      Quote from @Luis Diego Clare:
      Quote from @Ken M.:
      Quote from @Luis Diego Clare:

      Hey everyone,

      With higher rates, tighter margins, and longer hold times, I’m curious how investors here are adapting their strategies in 2025–2026.

      A few questions I’ve been thinking about:

      • Are you underwriting more conservatively, or passing on more deals altogether?

      • How are you budgeting for renovations with labor and material costs still fluctuating?

      • Have you shifted more toward buy-and-hold, or are flips still working in your market?

      • What has helped you protect your downside the most this year?

      I’m especially interested in hearing what’s working right now, not just what worked a few years ago. Real-world lessons (wins or mistakes) would be great for newer and experienced investors alike.

      Looking forward to learning from the community and the different perspectives here.

      Thanks in advance for sharing.

      You'd be surprised to learn that only a few markets are declining at the moment. Some markets are simply back to normal. I continue to buy using creative financing (that means I don't use banks or much of my own money) to buy. I typically sell on lease option unless I choose to sell outright. I'm a little odd in that I don't often use the MLS. It all depends on what you're ready for. I'm ready if the market changes. My activity increases when markets decline.
      That’s really interesting! I like how you use creative financing/lease options to stay flexible. Smart move adjusting your activity when markets shift. Do you focus on certain types of properties when that happens, or keep it flexible?

      @Luis Diego Clare: I have not found a way to buy off of the MLS profitably. Well, by that I mean the cost of sales is so high, that if I run into a problem, I want to be able to sell without bring money to escrow.

      People underestimate how expensive it is to sell and fall prey to the "guru" out there telling them that he buys using borrowed money to buy off of the MLS, and then he borrows the closing costs. Crazy. What he doesn't tell people is that they are on the hook for his foolishness. I choose to find honest people, who don't want to sell on the MLS and deal with them directly. You can see what I mean athttps://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/517/topics/1273656-how-...

       I know it's a lot of information and may need some explaining, but I take the time to answer questions.

  • G. Brian DavisPro Member
    Investor · Hatboro, PA · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 842 votes
    8mo

    I work with a co-investing club where we spread smaller amounts of capital across multiple larger deals, which has been a very effective way for us to stay active and manage risk in today’s market. Having been through many different investing strategies and cycles over the years, I’ve found that adapting structure and staying disciplined with underwriting allows you to keep moving forward, even as conditions change. There are still solid opportunities out there if you stay flexible and intentional with how you deploy capital.

    • Member since 2025 · 15 posts · 6 votes
      8mo
      Quote from @G. Brian Davis:

      I work with a co-investing club where we spread smaller amounts of capital across multiple larger deals, which has been a very effective way for us to stay active and manage risk in today’s market. Having been through many different investing strategies and cycles over the years, I’ve found that adapting structure and staying disciplined with underwriting allows you to keep moving forward, even as conditions change. There are still solid opportunities out there if you stay flexible and intentional with how you deploy capital.

      Thanks for sharing, Brian. The co-investing club approach sounds like a smart way to stay active, especially with how the market’s been. Totally agree on staying disciplined with underwriting and being flexible with structure, it really does make a difference across cycles.
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