Here’s the tight path: pick 2–3 target markets that fit your buy box, then build the Core Four there fast by networking in local meetups and Facebook groups, asking agents and PMs for rent comps and contractor bids, and giving one small test task to each to gauge responsiveness.

On the family house, don’t guess value; get a CMA or appraisal, then explore a HELOC or cash‑out refi if the payment still pencils after stress‑testing rents, taxes, and reserves.

In the early days of operating in DFW, we would repair foundations without testing the plumbing after.

Rates feel heavy right now, so make the deal do the work: lock a clear buy box, run a quick rent‑to‑price scan, then stress‑test with today’s rates, taxes, insurance, PM, vacancy, and CapEx reserves; if it’s still positive and you like the neighborhood fundamentals, buy and hold, then refi only when the math beats the cost of two closings.

Maybe you're:Creating custom valuation models or ARV calculatorsIdentifying Market Trends that others don't know aboutAutomating workflowsDeveloping property data aggregation systemsWorking with APIs (Public Data, Rentometer, Zestimate, BatchLeads, etc)Would love to connect and compare notes on implementation strategies, best practices for real estate-specific prompts, and creative use cases you've discovered in your local market.

I work primarily in multifamily and short-term rental investing — and over time, I’ve had many conversations with investors about the unfiltered side of real estate: the deals that didn’t go according to plan.Whether it’s unexpected costs, regulatory curveballs, or guest and tenant issues that test your patience, these stories always seem to reveal the same truth — the best investors aren’t just great at finding opportunities; they’re great at managing chaos.Through my investor interviews and real-world deal analyses, I’ve noticed that every “horror story” tends to leave behind one valuable thing: a framework for better decision-making.

Before offering, verify rent with a local PM, stress‑test taxes/insurance and a vacancy buffer, and get preapproved so you can move fast with inspection and financing outs.

The data is from RentCafe, you can look uo the newest report. 

As far as the markets go, things are moving quickly due to the backlog of buyers but my data suggests that supply will slowly start to creep upward as we get out of the summer and into the fall and hopefully as supply increases prices will deflate from the over inflated numbers we have been seeing over the last years or so. 

The waiting period between the RFTA submission and inspection approval can definitely test your patience, but following these steps helps avoid a lot of unnecessary headaches.I’d also add that keeping open communication with the housing caseworker can make a big difference.