There are a zillion deals out there, just keep working on getting leads and one will eventually hit.

Eventually I'd like to refinance and pull out cash to move into my next deal. 

With a house hack you can later decide if the experience is a stepping stone for you to move up the food chain and acquire more properties or eventually sell and just buy a single family to live in.

Eventually I would like to build a duplex and house hack with STR in the area.  

We loved the idea of creating something experiential and weird in the best possible way.Here’s the reality check we eventually hit:Actually getting to the summit portion of the land is extremely difficult.

The headline number looks stronger than the broader trend suggests.For mortgage rates, softer employment momentum can reduce inflation pressure and give the Fed more flexibility later this year.Inflation Falls to an 8-Month LowConsumer inflation rose just 0.2% in January and slowed to 2.4% year over year, down from 2.7%.Core inflation eased to 2.5% annually.That’s the lowest annual rate in eight months.Shelter (which makes up ~35% of CPI and ~44% of core CPI) was modest in January, helping bring the annual number down.Airline fares jumped, but the broader inflation picture was contained.Bottom line: Inflation is moving in the right direction.The Federal Reserve is still cautious, but easing inflation + cooling labor data strengthens the case for eventual rate cuts later in 2026.For buyers and sellers: inflation cooling is generally supportive for mortgage rate stability.Existing Home Sales Slow to Start 2026After a strong December, existing home sales fell 8.4% in January and were down 4.4% year over year.Inventory slipped slightly month-over-month but remains higher than last year.NAR noted unusually cold weather and heavy precipitation may have distorted the numbers.The more important point?

That’s worked well, but as I look toward the next phase (and eventual retirement), I want to intentionally shift from appreciation-driven growth to stable, income-focused investing for retirement income  I’m considering deploying ~$2M to buy 4-6 properties in all cash.

Most house hackers are going to self manage and learning to vet tenants and manage rentals is a lot to learn especially if you hope to eventually manage more than just a couple units. 

I know it will happen eventually but that is a lot of money in premiums over the years.

From the outside, it sounds like you may have a solid property that’s worth thinking about long-term.From a tax perspective, if the property is structured correctly, it can also be something you eventually pass down to your heirs.