I don't mind waiting to grow my DP, it just feels like on this economy and how things are going, how can we safely save for these goals to get into REI and also travel through muddied areas such as having a child, health issues or other things as well as tenant relations once a property is yours?

Here’s what to know:5,000 new homes, 8M+ sq ft of office, 500k sq ft of retail, and 75 acres of civic/trail space are all in the works.Certified “One Planet Living” community—prioritizing sustainability, equity, and mixed-income housing.Infrastructure (transit + bridges) will connect directly to Belmont and western Gaston County, opening up huge spillover potential.First homes (Westrow & NOVEL apartments) expected to deliver by late 2025.Gastonia’s FUSE District: From Mill Town to Mixed-Use HubGastonia has made major moves with the creation of the FUSE District—a sports, entertainment, and redevelopment zone centered around:CaroMont Health Park, a 5,000-seat stadium hosting the Gastonia Ghost Peppers and concerts, soccer, and more.Franklin Yards, a $50M+ project adding 280+ Class-A apartments and retail to the mix.Historic mill conversions (Loray, Osage, Trenton) transforming into lofts and commercial space, creating an urban, walkable feel.The Social District allows visitors to walk between restaurants, breweries, and bars with drinks in hand—great for tourism and local nightlife.A few FUSE favorites:Durty Bull Brewery, Cavendish Brewing, The Rooster (live music), Double Barrel Saloon, and more.Nearby Towns to WatchMcAdenville – aka “Christmas Town USA” – draws 600K+ visitors each holiday season.

Just make sure the property is in good enough condition to meet VA standards, which include health and safety requirements.

The idea being if mom needs to sell her junky house to a cash buyer in order pay for the care facility plus doesn't have to deal with repairs then hopefully your senior health care network contacts will remember you when they run across this which is supposedly often. 

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And funny enough, in many states, the lowest income earners have also kept pace after allocating in the off-set's they receive via the countless things one get's be it the "tax bonus" each year, the off-set's on health care, groceries, cell phones, internet and cable plans, on and on and on. 

rehab or bridge loan (short term debt) to get the cash to reno, do the reno, put a tenant in, and then do a DSCR loan for long term debt. if the property is in good enough condition and you can qualify using income instead of a renter, you could likely do a fannie/ freddie inv. loan and just dive right into a 30 year fixed without having 2 different transactions. this will save on transactional costs but it would have to pass appraisal (reads: the property has to be livable without health an safety issues). hope this helps

Imagine a lender that factors in long-term building health, deferred maintenance, and CAPEX risk into their pricing model.

They would overheat and not trip, thus causing fires.I would focus on health and safety items first, then cosmetic second.

.💡 What This Means for Buyers & InvestorsOpportunities: Price dips in the condo market may favor primary homebuyers looking for mid- to long-term appreciation.Warnings: Always check the financial health and reserve requirements of the HOA.Trends: The market is adjusting post-2024, offering new entry points for informed buyers with flexible strategies.