For you to be in the game 2 years Im impressed and see you are headed to much bigger things.

It may be a difficult game to get into in 20 years, yet many will find a way and the cycle will continue, so long as the US is still standing.Ultimately, none of us has a crystal ball, we can only look at history.Conversations like these have been going on since the dawn of man and will continue. 

Gotta 1 up @Jonathan Greene its for sure a different and more relational game. 

And those property taxes in Texas can be a real game-changer, especially without any cap, making it tough to predict long-term expenses.

Hey Jude,Welcome back to the real estate game!

In my opinion, house hacking is the easiest way to get into the RE game with the lowest money out of pocket...plus if you throw in a renovation loan like the 203k or homestyle, you can boost your worth quickly!

Here's what I’m considering for each:Houston: Diverse job market and high rental demand, but property prices are rising.Midland: Potentially lower property prices, but market stability often ties to the oil industry.Oklahoma City: Affordable market with decent rental demand, but I’m curious about long-term growth potential.Pittsburgh: Growing rental demand, especially in areas like Mt.

You're not in this game for a year with the buy and hold strategy.

If you're getting back into the lending game for long-term hold investors, a realistic “ideal” loan might look like this:Rates: Somewhere around 6-8% interest, depending on the risk profile of the borrower and the property.LTV: 70-80% LTV is solid, especially if you're aiming for lower risk.Term: 5-10 years works for LTR investors who want stability.Fees: Reasonable origination fee (1-2%) is expected, but avoid nickel-and-diming borrowers with hidden fees.Prepayment: A soft prepayment penalty could be fair if paid off in the first couple of years, but after that, no penalties.Speed: Being able to close quickly (within a couple of weeks) would be a huge plus.In short, give investors a competitive rate, decent terms, and flexibility on prepayment, and you’re golden.

When the market swings the opposite direction, you'll be ahead of the game.