Many owners believe holding out for a higher rent is the smart move.In reality, waiting can be more expensive than lowering the price.The Cost of VacancyLet’s look at a simple example.You want $2,000/month, but the market is telling you $1,900.You decide to wait.If the property sits vacant for:1 month → you lose $2,0002 months → you lose $4,000Now let’s amortize that loss over a standard 12-month lease.If you dropped the rent by $100/month:$100 × 12 months = $1,200 total differenceCompare that to:$2,000–$4,000 in lost income from vacancyWaiting for the “right” number just cost you more than accepting the market rate.Vacancy Is the Silent Cash Flow KillerVacant properties don’t just lose rent — they still have:Mortgage paymentsTaxesInsuranceUtilitiesMaintenance riskA slightly lower rent with consistent occupancy almost always outperforms a higher rent with prolonged vacancy.Running the Numbers Changes the MindsetWhen you truly run your numbers — not emotionally, but mathematically — you start asking better questions:How long can I afford this property to sit empty?

How long do you tolerate waiting for terms before moving on?

For now, I am reading, listening to podcasts, and starting to poke around my area (Greenfield and Rushville, IN) to get the lay of the land.

So here I sit with $120K in "losses" mostly due to rehabs of units waiting for the day when I actually start taking profits.

Hey BP community
I aquired my first property a few years back and initially utilized a house hacking strategy for a couple years. The property is currently rented out to tenants and I have put a property manager in ch...

Be prepared to wait, and wait, and wait. 

Higher % of return.Between myself and one client I have involved this is what we have done:BOUGHT ------SOLD ---------- DEAL LENGTH38k                  55k              4months27k                  45k             3.5 months52k                  85k             3 months24,500            43k              Closing Feb 6th 53k                  80k              under contract (4 months)20k                 ------              Waiting on Deed (expected sale 40k)No mortgages.

To me, it feels more like a market that rewards patience, conservative assumptions, and knowing your market well.I wrote a longer piece laying all this out in more detail if anyone wants to dig deeper, but I’m genuinely curious what others are seeing.How are you thinking about leverage and underwriting heading into 2026?

I have yet to decide how I would like to lay mine out.

.➡️ This looks more like a seasonal pause than a demand problem.Economic Growth Was Stronger Than ExpectedFinal Q3 GDP came in at 4.4%, the fastest pace since 2023 and slightly above the initial estimate.Growth was driven by:Strong consumer spendingIncreased exportsHigher government spendingA decline in imports (which boosts GDP)Why this matters for housing: A growing economy supports income stability, confidence, and long-term housing demand — even if activity fluctuates month to month.Labor Market: Few Layoffs, Few HiresInitial jobless claims stayed very low at 200,000, while continuing claims dipped slightly to 1.85 million.The takeaway:Employers aren’t laying people offHiring remains cautiousGig and contract work continue to absorb displaced workersThis “low-fire, low-hire” environment keeps the economy steady — not overheating or collapsing.What This Means Right NowInflation is cooperating (even if slowly)Rates have room to stabilize or improveHousing demand hasn’t disappeared — it pausedInventory remains the real constraintFor buyers and sellers, timing and preparation matter more than headlines.What to Watch This WeekFederal Reserve rate decision (Wednesday)Home price data (Case-Shiller & FHFA)Jobless claims (Thursday)Producer Price Index (Friday)Quick Rate WatchMortgage bonds are holding near key support levels, and the 10-year Treasury is sitting below an important long-term average.