Many are looking to retire or shift out of active management, especially as interest rates rise.From what I’ve read in Bloomberg, Austin's market in 2025 remains highly competitive but still has opportunities in older neighborhoods and suburban areas.

Managing the operation myself could save money and provide better control compared to working with out-of-state properties.

I’d be happy to use my Sherwin Williams and save you $10/gal. #2 if I don’t know you, I’m not working until there’s a check in hand.

So if you have $150,000 to invest you can make $9,000 annually.Most people will never retire from owning Real Estate unless they substantially cut their cost of living. 

However, if I had started off with a house hack, I could have lower my monthly mortgage tremendously which would have helped me build up my savings at a much quicker pace than I had.

I saved some money and decided to pull the plug in April 2024.

Eliminate debt, establish a budget, and save.

I want to buy and hold, running this as a retirement project, with my son managing it. 

As for hard money, it’s great for scaling quickly, but if you have the cash, using it can definitely save on interest and fees, boosting your profit.

Keep in mind refinancing costs typically range from 2%-5% of the loan amount, so weigh the upfront costs against the long-term savings to see what works best for your goals.Good luck!