I would also bet there are few instances where a forever home is actually forever so I always consider ease of resale when I am purchasing. 

. 👉 This is the kind of backdrop the Fed wanted — easing inflation pressures that make it safer to cut rates.🏡 Home Price Growth Slows, But Stays PositiveCotality (formerly CoreLogic) reported home prices up 1.4% year-over-year in July.

.📊 Key Market MetricsHome prices: Down ~2–4% YoY (median ≈ $276K).Price cuts: ~28% of listings cut asking prices.Days on market: ~118–121 (up from ~103 last year).Inventory: Approaching 4–5 months of supply → shifting toward buyer’s market.Condos: More supply, longer sales times, higher HOA + insurance costs.Short-term rentals (STRs): ~60% occupancy, solid in peak months but more competition.Financing: Mortgage rates easing slightly but affordability still tight.💡 What Investors Should KnowCash flow > appreciation – Buy properties that pay today, not just someday.Condo caution – Watch for HOAs, insurance, and oversupply dragging returns.Inland & off-peak areas – Better value, steadier long-term tenants, lower entry cost.Negotiating power – Cooling market = leverage for buyers.STR playbook – Professional management, upgrades, and pricing tools are must-haves.💰 Investment Buyer OpportunitiesMotivated Sellers: Nearly 30% of listings cutting prices → room to negotiate.Single-Family Homes Inland: Lower prices + stronger year-round rental demand.Retiree-Focused Housing: Steady demand in 55+ and low-maintenance communities.Small Multifamily (2–4 units): Rising rents + less competition = strong buy-and-hold.Fix & Flip: Longer DOM = distressed sellers and below-value buys.✅ Bottom LineMyrtle Beach is shifting from a hot seller’s market to a more balanced one.

In the Midwest, for example, smaller cities offer stable rental demand, lower purchase prices, and strong potential for cash-on-cash returns—even for someone new to long-term buy-and-hold.If your goal is to scale with long-term ownership, consider properties where you can manage remotely with a solid local property manager, or start with smaller multifamily units to ease into the market.

Starting with STR lets you capture bonus depreciation and then moving to MTR later can ease the management side while keeping cash flow steady.

@Collin Hays Collin, a lot of guests do love the “real” wood-burning experience, but honestly, most STR travelers these days prioritize ease and safety.

• At what point in your scaling journey did you find that having a formal entity (LLC, LP, or trust) became non-negotiable for both protection and ease of growing your portfolio?

I think the simplest way to say this is with a commission sharing modelyou have to go through more leads than with just paying up front.Usually when it's commission sharing leads there's less of a vetting process,brand credibility, trust, and ease of conversation going into the lead.As long as the company is a viable one with a great reputation,there should be no issue taking a chance on paying for leads up front.Another question in mind is what's your confidence level when speaking with leads?

Other Questions:a) Do you recommend 3 or 4 or 5 bed room houses for ease and best returns of renting out?

Hey Kevin, I usually look for a bank that balances flexibility for your business structure with ease of access to accounts and reporting.