I’m excited to finally jump in here after lurking for a bit and soaking up the value this community shares.By day, I’m an insurance advisor helping real estate investors, flippers, landlords, and contractors make sure their properties and businesses are properly protected without overpaying.

It keeps your seed capital fluid without overextending your holding costs.In short — yes, the appetite’s still there, but lenders are paying more attention to intent and stability of cash flow rather than just equity position.Sounds like you’re on the right path.

One has Japanese soaking tub (and it does tend to book better than the average condo).

And/or property taxes & insurance will increase to soak up the difference.

A farmer who takes inert seeds and turns them into corn is creating value.

And I haven’t looked back.That one decision gave me the seed money—and the confidence—I needed to begin my investing journey.

I think you're right, the people who didn't adjust their rates and have taken an 18.34% haircut are soaking up a lot of the bookings right now. 

I've been analyzing deals and studying the market for the last six months—reading books, listening to podcasts, and trying to soak up as much knowledge as I can.

If I were in your shoes, I’d treat that $50K signing bonus as your seed capital, not something to “spend” but to leverage smartly.Here’s a framework I’d consider:Keep your VA loan for the house hack — 0% down, low interest, and no PMI means your cash stays liquid.Use part of the bonus for reserves — 6–12 months of expenses (both personal + property).

You’ll end up owning something far away you can’t fix and can’t sell.If you treat that 10–15K like seed money — to get experience and leverage relationships — it’s more powerful than waiting years to stack 100K; Stanley I really hope this helps you and your clients a bit, I sent you a DM on BP, it's one of the reasons I do this, I hope you can assist.