I ended up doing that in 2021 and found properties that have made me money rather than costing me money every month. 

Hi @Damon Diddit I would avoid Newark at all costs. 

Finding durable products at reasonable costs. 

I'm getting nervous that the area is eventually going to become unlivable because of the prohibitive cost of the insurance.

But if borrowing costs remain high and interest rates don't fall as many people expect, cap rates will have to decompress further. 

You end up with Hotel Quality sheets / soaps for the cost of Amazon or even less.

You pay your agent at closing (think of it as an additional closing cost) Depending of the situation and of these options can be used by you and your agent to negotiate with the seller.

Also these things cost money to sell - agent fees (5-6%), whatever your buyer is going to ask for at closing or try to hit you at during inspections (likely several thousand) plus taxes.

I have other money that'll cost me 10%.

It’s crucial to ensure that your cash reserves can cover not only the mortgage but also unexpected expenses during the remodel.The 30% housing rule is a helpful guideline to avoid overextending yourself, and ideally, you should be comfortable with your monthly housing costs even without rental income.