Second, in some situations we can, in fact, dramatically reduce your current taxes either by after-the-fact tax strategies (for example, cost segregation and QOZ fund rollovers) or by applying advanced analysis to your specific situation (for example, Real Estate Professional status, STR material participation "loophole", past depreciation corrections, etc.).

If you can get the property for a low price, you can offset the occupancy issue and boost the effective cap rate.

I am probably biased but I think AZ is a great place to start if you want a landlord friendly state that is seeing dramatic economic growth lately.

Having $30000 equity in a SFU that cash flows $173 month is dramatically changed into a negative cash flow investment if you do a HELOC. 

HVAC equipment pricing increased dramatically over the past few years (largely due to regulatory changes) and is a major building system I would personally throw money towards proactively to keep the equipment running well.

To answer your question, the reason why most investors finance their purchases is because debt has the potential to dramatically magnify your returns when things go right.

Resident satisfaction goes up, complaints go to your vendor (not your office).The Shift from Amenities to Infrastructure RevenueAt the IREM 2024 Global Summit, property management leaders emphasized innovative ancillary revenue streams as essential to boosting cash flow in saturated markets.Jae Roe, Founder of SOVA Real Estate Solutions and VP of Property Management at Chicago Trend Corp., put it plainly: "You're really only constrained by your imagination" when it comes to ancillary income opportunities.The differentiation game is moving from amenities (granite countertops, pool upgrades) to infrastructure that generates measurable, recurring cash flow (WiFi, smart building tech, charging stations).The shift isn't about nickel-and-diming residents.

Some continuing claims may also be rolling off as benefit eligibility expires.Bottom line: the labor market isn’t strengthening dramatically, but it’s stable enough to support housing demand without forcing the Fed into aggressive moves.What to Watch This WeekJobs data takes center stage:Job openings & ADP private payrolls (Wednesday)Weekly jobless claims (Thursday)Full employment report + delayed construction data (Friday)These releases will help shape expectations for rates, buyer confidence, and early-year activity.Technical Snapshot (For the Rate Watchers)Mortgage bonds closed near the lower end of their recent range, while the 10-year Treasury yield finished just below 4.20% resistance.

Putting your pessimistic and arrogant two cents on every post to boost your count isn't impressive.

However, it only takes a future administration with a different agenda for rent control to become permanent at the national level.As landlords, we have already experienced unprecedented rent forbearance during the pandemic, ongoing tax increases and additional local tax measures, dramatic insurance premium hikes, and rising CapEx and maintenance costs driven by inflation.