The process of searching for a property to house hack, getting exposure to real estate contracts, and possibly getting into some rehab will create a great deal of momentum in your real estate journey.

It is all about momentum. 

It is so inspiring to see you gain so much momentum in the past few months!

From a pure price index standpoint, some are picking up momentum while others are peaking--the exact place in the cycle is different for each metro. 

If you wanted to get your hands dirty you could also do a live-in flip where you can add some forced appreciation in there too.With the money saved and the factors above you can really start to build momentum by getting a HELOC, and then invest out of state or elsewhere in CA.

Any amount will do, but if you search diligently, you can actually find a bank that will give you what is known as a first position HELOC which assumes the entire house payment and loans you up to 75% or 80% loan to value.If you find the first position HELOC and make sure to apply principle-only payments on the home through the fall and winter, using the HELOC itself to pay the interest portions, come spring, you'll have a significantly reduced debt burden (having changed nothing about your monthly payments), more credit open on the HELOC and the option to buy another property.Rent the first, add its cashflow to the paydown of the HELOC and begin again.The problem is, if you sell the home you're in now because of ROI, you'll lose momentum, equity, and leverage against recession.

I'd love to hear more anecdotal evidence from you and other Austin MSA agents in the forum about what you're seeing with respect to demand, inventory, and if you think this momentum will continue into the Fall and Winter when historically, sales tend to slow down.

Consistency will get you momentum.

Keep the momentum going! 

I feel like I'm building momentum that way.