Initial screening process went very well, called his previous landlord and she said he was awesome, job said he was great, etc. 

They will refinance the duplexes now, with a single portfolio loan (saving on multiple origination fees), but at 6 months they offer a lower rate and 80% vs 75% LTV (allowing me to free up all initial capital for future deals).

Title company denied any responsibility for claim initially; after engaging attorney they settled with us for $195,0002.

.➡️ This looks more like a seasonal pause than a demand problem.Economic Growth Was Stronger Than ExpectedFinal Q3 GDP came in at 4.4%, the fastest pace since 2023 and slightly above the initial estimate.Growth was driven by:Strong consumer spendingIncreased exportsHigher government spendingA decline in imports (which boosts GDP)Why this matters for housing: A growing economy supports income stability, confidence, and long-term housing demand — even if activity fluctuates month to month.Labor Market: Few Layoffs, Few HiresInitial jobless claims stayed very low at 200,000, while continuing claims dipped slightly to 1.85 million.The takeaway:Employers aren’t laying people offHiring remains cautiousGig and contract work continue to absorb displaced workersThis “low-fire, low-hire” environment keeps the economy steady — not overheating or collapsing.What This Means Right NowInflation is cooperating (even if slowly)Rates have room to stabilize or improveHousing demand hasn’t disappeared — it pausedInventory remains the real constraintFor buyers and sellers, timing and preparation matter more than headlines.What to Watch This WeekFederal Reserve rate decision (Wednesday)Home price data (Case-Shiller & FHFA)Jobless claims (Thursday)Producer Price Index (Friday)Quick Rate WatchMortgage bonds are holding near key support levels, and the 10-year Treasury is sitting below an important long-term average.

Utilities, permits (along with the time they require which adds to carrying costs), interest payments, etc. can tip a deal that initially looks good to a cash drain so factor them in and be sure to put in a 10% reserve for the unexpected costs which you know will come up. 

Hello @Kyle Hoppman,Before shopping for properties, define what a “good deal” means to you — because that determines what and where you should buy.If your goal is higher initial cash flow, I would look for low cost properties in a city with declining population.

On the flip side commercial properties need a lot of initial know how but they can pay off big time down the road.

• Any structures you didn’t initially consider but ended up working well?

For an initial “back of a napkin” calculation I would request an offering package from the seller or broker.

Initially, I thought that I could get the property FHA conforming  by adding a fridge and a shower.