Keep it simple: define your buy box, underwrite deals with conservative rents and full expenses, and practice your 60‑second pitch to investors using a credibility‑first frame: problem, plan, numbers, protection, timeline.

But my favorite sponsors aren't from here.I'm a conservative investor, so when I invest in multi-family I prefer sponsors that have at least one full real-estate cycle of experience, little to no money lost, low leverage, and high skin in the game.And there is a multi-family operator that has multiple real estate cycles of experience (decades) and it's track record claims no money lost in that time.

For rents, use a conservative range and model full PITI, taxes, insurance, PM, maintenance, reserves, and a vacancy factor; if it doesn’t cash flow on the low rent with today’s rate, pass.

Walk three properties weekly, analyze five daily with conservative ARV and rehab, and make offers with inspection and financing outs.

One piece of advice: really get to know the sub-markets (block by block in some areas) and run conservative rental estimates so you don’t get surprised after closing.

Rates, occupancy, design, location still matter.Action Items This WeekReach out to 2 cost segregation firms and ask for a preliminary estimate for STR properties in your state.Add a line in your next deal underwriting model: “Tax savings from cost segregation” and test a conservative number.Review your current property management logs: are you tracking your hours/material participation?

If you consider a cash‑out refi, make sure the new payment still pencils under conservative rents and factor closing costs twice if you plan to refi again.

Given Portland’s rules and prices, keep it simple and conservative: define a tight buy box (SFH 3/1–3/2 or small duplex in stable, landlord‑friendly pockets), underwrite with real taxes/insurance from the address, PM‑verified rents, and a healthy repair/vacancy buffer; ADUs can work but pencil them as a bonus, not the reason the deal works.

Prioritize reliability over rates — pick lenders who close on time, not just quote low.Pad your timelines — plan 45–60 days for financed closings, and keep a private or bridge backup ready.Structure dual offers — one clean cash option for speed, one financed offer with conservative numbers; pivot to creative terms if needed.Start funding early — build lender and private-money conversations before the deal, not after.Stay ready and disciplined — keep docs prepped, underwrite at current rates, and stick to your buy box to avoid chasing marginal deals.Audit your bottleneck — figure out what’s slowing you down most: capital, timelines, or deal conditions—and solve that first.

But more accurately, it is normalizing from an extreme low base during the zero-interest-rate policy era, 2020-2021.And consumer retail sales are still quite healthy, up YoY.And just today, the (often conservative/pessimistic) Atlanta Federal Reserve forecast a 4% GDP growth for Q3 of this year.