More precise measurement is a dynamic of change.

Out of town investing can make sense precisely because it forces you to build proper systems and third party management from day one, instead of trying to do everything yourself.Indianapolis is a market many Chicago based investors look at for the reasons you mentioned: lower entry prices, more predictable cash flow, and fewer regulatory headaches than the city of Chicago.

Catskills (NY): Strong demand + higher ADRs, but regulations are town-by-town and tighteningSome towns require STR permits, owner-occupancy, caps, or outright bansBuild costs, permitting, septic/well, and taxes are generally higherMore upside, but more friction and regulatory risk  Shenandoah Valley (VA): Generally more STR-friendly, especially outside town limitsZoning and permitting tend to be simpler and fasterLower land + build costs in many areasSlightly lower ADRs, but often more stable and predictable  If your goal is simplicity and fewer regulatory surprises, Shenandoah often wins.If your goal is top-line revenue and long-term appreciation, Catskills can work—but you have to be very precise about the town, zoning, and STR rules before buying land. 

Because I think the people who are accredited, are meeting that too easily these days, and they are in fact not actually sophisticated investors.Yeah that's all fine and good theoretically until you remember that the entire business model of every real estate guru ever revolves around selling courses to or raising money from precisely the type of unsophisticated investors who would invest based on something they saw on a podcast.

I’ve found that once you’ve seen enough of those bids play out, the early screens become less about precision and more about knowing whether a deal is even worth advancing.

Who would be surprised by that.Friday's event will likely be the same worthless dog and pony show with more empty promises but we all can listen to what the excuses are this time.A key question that they never answer in a precise or detailed way is what happens when most of these properties amortize starting at various times in 2026.

Also I think you should specify your goal precisely such as cash flow or appreciation or both.Good luck!

Hard to say precisely without details, but foreign buyers usually have more luck with asset-based lenders instead of traditional banks.

You’re hearing it in national reporting and on NPR, and we’re seeing it reflected locally.No one knows precisely how much of this is AI reshaping early-career roles, how much is tariffs and global trade friction, and how much is simply a broader economic deceleration after a long expansion.

More complexity often just creates more room to justify a deal that shouldn’t be done.Where I think tools can add value isn’t by adding more inputs, but by enforcing discipline — for example, conservative defaults, stress-tested scenarios, and making it harder to ignore downside cases.The real risk with any model (spreadsheet or software) is that it gives a false sense of precision.