Im self employed, roughly make $130k gross anually, 1099 NEC , no debt at all, 740 credit score.  Want to get a loan for $250k in AZ

Also lots of sellers have locked in <4% rates and don't want to buy at 7% new investors who dont have low rates will just deal with the new normal or historic rates.

The larger properties (1,700 sq ft and above) are the ones that have seen the decreases in value and rents. 

this is not to suggest that borrowing to invest may not be a good strategy; but one must understand that borrowing INCREASES risk, not decreases risk.2. 

One group wants housing prices to increase, the other wants them to decrease. 

To decrease expenses, we are 1.

Surprisingly, these homes that once sold for $7,000 are now selling for close to $1,000,000 and it doesn't seem as though the rate of appreciations is decreasing anytime soon. 

I do not care what the source of the return is  Historically the highest return is via a value add and appreciation and is more so recently due to the recent rate increase versus earlier this century (before 2022).However, most new RE investors cannot handle extended periods of large negative cash flow.  

-Decreased security deposit to 1x for MTR.

Only five of the qualifying 25 local cities saw a population decrease, topped by Bee Cave (-2.7%).