I now understand the importance of having a significant cushion to soften the blow and keep me afloat. 

I’d love to hear your thoughts:Has your market softened this year?

And I am bullish for the Midwest in general, US prices will continue to equalize: the top markets soften and the bottom catch up.

The September FOMC minutes revealed a divided committee, but the recent drop in yields and softening private-sector data have tilted expectations toward another 25 basis point cut.

Here are some key highlights from the report, which compares September 2025 with September 2024:The median sales price in the City of Austin decreased 6% to $550,000, while the greater Austin metro declined 1.8% to $420,000, reflecting mild year-over-year softening after a long stretch of stability.Closed sales increased 16.6% in Austin to 837 transactions, and rose 6.7% across the metro to 2,416.

The labor market continues to soften, inflation is on trend down but may be volatile in the short term, the US economy is still expected to grow like gangbusters at 3.8%, and the Fed has a great cut decision to make just before Halloween (Oct. 29th).

With rates up and rents softening, true cash flow is tough unless you’re finding value add deals or buying below market.If your main goal is strong cash flow, you’ll likely need to start looking in more affordable markets where the rent to price ratios still make sense.

.- Market risk, if the market softens during your rehab, profits can shrink or disappear.- Unexpected repairs or inspection issues that eat into margin.Why it might feel more stressful:- Bigger financial exposure, you’re buying and holding real estate.- Delays can cost you real money.- More moving parts, especially if you're flipping multiple properties at once.Flipping is usually more stressful, but it can be more rewarding financially if everything goes according to plan.

The market has softened and you'll likely need to join local groups and get active with promoting the property in those groups and even play matchmaker with 2-3 people looking for a room with overlapping search criteria. 

It’s about pricing, presentation, and platform reach.If you're curious how some owners are consistently ahead — even in this softening market — ask me.