Lease options, when done right, tend to decrease risk and increase profits.  

And others that have been going bankrupt like Starcity were more because of COVID and ending in cashflow problems because of the decreased occupancies. 

It would depend on your market but what I have seen is new construction was going up every phase but now has leveled off or decreased.  

They are more volatile:  They increase in value percentage wise more than other classes in boom times, and decrease in value more in difficult times than other classes.I have owned four condos, two residential and two commercial, for more than 30 years and have no regrets.

That decrease in demand definitely impacts rents and housing (and many other things). 

You could possibly decrease your 401k savings (which would increase your taxable income), and shift this savings over to your brokerage account. 

Waiting six months to refinance to get a .25% rate decrease may not make sense if you are paying a hard money loan of 12% in the meantime.

Once the property is placed in service, you're absolutely right that you'll want to find ways to increase expenses and decrease the amount you capitalize.

One option is to offer a temporary rent reduction rather than a permanent $300 decrease. 

In my underwriting, I am not depicting any benefit from a rate decrease any time soon.as for waiting, I gave been forecasting flattish appreciation.