Commercial loans have not started to decrease.  

The demand is usually steady year-round in Chicago for that group.That said, here’s how I’d weigh it:If you go MTR:You’ll need to furnish it properly — not fancy, but turnkey: queen bed in each room, blackout curtains, comfy couch, smart TV, solid Wi-Fi, a stocked kitchen (pots/pans, utensils, coffee maker, toaster), and a simple desk setup.Expect about $4K–$6K upfront to get it guest-ready if you’re starting from scratch.Cleaning and turnover management can be automated (Turno app or a local cleaner), but there’s still some coordination involved.Since you’re near a hospital, list on both Furnished Finder and Airbnb (30+ night stays) — that combo usually keeps you booked.If you go LTR instead:You’ll save yourself the time and mental load of setting up a new system while adjusting to newborn life.Even if the rent’s lower, you’ll get steady income and less stress, which might be worth it right now.Winter leasing in Chicago:Yeah, it’s slower — especially December through February — but MTRs tied to hospitals stay active because medical contracts don’t follow the same seasonality.If this were me?

I had one rental property and it was very stressful so I ended up selling.

Days On Market have been increasing for several months:(As a result, rents are also flatlining or decreasing. 

A little stress and discomfort is MOTIVATING.If you need things to be perfect to jump in, DO NOT buy real estate. 

Concerns such as the home value decreasing, 24/7 humming noise, increase water bills, increase electric bills and other environmental concerns in regards to health. 

This is unusual as rents typically dip in this time of year.Rentals - Availability by MonthThe number of homes for rent decreased MoM in September, again bucking the usual seasonal trend.Rentals - Median Time to RentTime to rent increased MoM from 24 days to 28 days, but remained healthy especially for the season.Rentals - Months of SupplyThere are only 1.4 months of supply for our target rental property profile.

If you are truly looking to shorten the loan and decrease the rate, it may make more sense to look at a 15 year option. 

If you can make decisions that relieve any stress points with your spouse, with your kids, or with yourself, those are the decisions I would make. 

It was a stressful time and I'm grateful that we overcame it.