If you don't like Dave Ramsey then we can look at Big Bang Theory where Penny borrowed money from Sheldon and even though he didn't care about what she was spending or when she would be paying him back, every time he said anything she thought he was grilling her about that. 

Don't grill me too hard.I own three rental properties, one is my primary residence with an apartment (5 units total between 3 properties: 1 airbnb, 2 medium term healthcare leases, and 2 long-term rentals).

Some design and amenity ideas:+ Welcoming living space with plush seating for family hangouts+ Coffee bar or stocked tea station for early mornings before campus events+ Dining table or breakfast nook perfect for family meals+ Dedicated workspace for parents who need to check in on workFor sports fans, tap into their game-day energy and make your STR the go-to spot for a fun, convenient stay:+ Big, comfortable seating & a great TV setup (think oversized couch, streaming sports channels)+ Game-day essentials like a mini fridge stocked with game-day snacks/drinks+ Outdoor space with a grill & seating for pre- or post-game gatherings+ Good parking (sports fans hate scrambling)+ Team spirit decor touches (subtle, not tacky—think framed sports prints, not full-on mascot murals)Your design & reviews will do most of the marketing but to market directly to these guests:🎯 List your STR on sites where parents and alumni book (if allowed)🎯 Partner with local businesses—coffee shops, sports bars, or tailgate services—where your ideal guests hang out🎯 Optimize your listing title and description with phrases like “Perfect for Visiting Parents & College Game Days”🎯 Time any discounts/promotions around major campus events—homecoming, graduation, big rivalry gamesThink of it this way, you’re not just offering a place to stay—you’re creating an experience they’ll want to book again and again.

Essentially, worst case, how many months can you carry the property?

What I do think and this is just my 2 cent opinion is I do not think we will see steep drops, I think we will see some softening in areas over the next few years where we do not get appreciation - which with inflation still going strong will essentially lead to pricing staying the same / lowering slightly between now and 2027ish which with cost of dollar not going as far will be essentially the same as salaries etc. catching up to home prices.Hope that makes sense. 

Afterwards, is there essentially no risk?

Easy to use yourself too HELOC works (there may be some places that do a HELOCs on rental properties)I personally have used a 401k Loan on a few occasions - You're essentially borrowing money from your 401k and paying yourself back (interest goes back into your 401k as opposed to a bank) and if you don't pay your 401k back the loan would simply become a withdraw (maybe some tax penalties, but you could probably finagle a workaround).

This bodes well for long-term equity growth.Rising Rents: The uptick in rental prices shows a strong demand for rental properties and could lead to better cash flow for investors.Economic Strength: Reading has a diverse economy, with key sectors like manufacturing, healthcare, and education providing stability.Rental Demand: Low vacancy rates signal that people are actively renting in the area, which is essential for scalability.Future Development: Any upcoming infrastructure projects or new businesses could further boost the market.With these positive trends, it seems like Reading could be a scalable rental market.

Having your financing lined up is essential because many properties receive institutional bids.

We're living in times when franchises go out of business overnight, but healthcare will never be since it is essential.