They can also help guide you in building a Scope of Work to get a clear/better indicator of your rehab costs.

As a starting point, I built what I think of as a balanced lens — not optimized for max cash flow or pure appreciation, but something that tolerates tradeoffs and avoids extremes.The idea was to compare cities relative to one another, rather than arguing whether a single metric is “good” or “bad” in absolute terms.The dimensions I ended up looking at were things like:Home prices relative to national normsRent affordability (rent vs income)Employment diversityLiquidity indicators (days on market, inventory)Structural friction (e.g. landlord-friendly vs tenant-friendly states)Everything is scored relative to the set of cities being compared, and then stack-ranked.

The near-misses I’ve seen this year almost always come back to optimistic ARVs or thin margins that didn’t leave room for today’s underwriting.Looking ahead to 2026, early indicators point to:Continued DSCR focusSlightly tighter LTVsMore emphasis on durability vs. max leverageThat lines up with recent commentary from groups like the MBA, AAPL, and broader private credit analysts showing banks staying cautious while non-QM and DSCR demand holds steady.Feels like a market that’s rewarding clarity and discipline more than creativity right now.

It doesn't look like a garage conversion, but the SFH is currently having two kitchens, which is a good indication of some work done in the past.I also reached out to the listing agent for clarification but haven’t received a response.For those with experience:- Do you generally assume unpermitted work when the sqft and shape don’t line up?  

Now, some of this might be a personal discussion that's not very indicative in a public forum. 

🏘 Exeter, NH 2-Unit Multifamily Snapshot (Sold 2025)Property Overview:Sold in 2025 for the mid-$700s2-family configuration:(1) 3-bedroom unit(1) 1-bedroom unitJust under 3,000 sq ftFully renovated and truly turn-keyPricing & Market Context:Sold right at list price, indicating strong demand and accurate pricingRoughly $250 per sq ft, which aligns well with renovated multifamily pricing in ExeterReflects what the market is willing to pay for low-maintenance, move-in-ready assetsTakeaway:This sale reinforces that well-executed, renovated small multifamily properties in Exeter continue to command strong pricing—especially when condition and unit mix appeal to both owner-occupants and investors.Is this property best for owner occupants looking to offset their living expenses a bit(and which unit would you live in?)

The inside (dental rooms, equipment, etc.) is basically the same as it was 20 years ago with no major updates so it is dated and will need some significant upgrades.The dentist has indicated that he would consider selling me the condo space directly with seller financing either as part of the practice purchase or down the road.

With the tax-free gain of $500k on a $500k remaining mortgage, I'm considering taking the $1m of tax-free cash and buying some STRs with my LLC as follows:Research indicates 3-5 BR SFH are best near Jay Peak or North Conway, so I could probably acquire x2 STRs with that cash and projecting (based on AirDNA):BALANCE SHEET ($/yr)- INCOME-- TOTAL (annual revenue target): 100k (assuming low end of STR math from this website) - EXPENSES-- taxes = 1% (NH) + 2% (VT) = 15k-- insurance = 0.25% = 2.5k -- PM fees = 20-40% (I'm seeing a wide range - anyone have comps?)

A cursory internet search indicates that they've been in business for 7 years and their site states that they haven't missed a payment in 3.5 years.

The median $/SF has remained in a tight band of $1.16/SF and $1.20/SF throughout 2025.Rentals - Availability by MonthThe number of homes for rent continued to decrease MoM, which is unusual for the time of year (it usually rises towards the end of the year).Rentals - Median Time to RentMedian days to rent decreased MoM, a bit unusual for December.Rentals - Months of SupplyInventory decreased MoM to about 1.7 months, indicating a firm landlord’s market.Sales - Months of SupplySales inventory has remained in a tight band of between 2 and 3 months throughout 2025, except for December, when it dropped to 1.8 months.