Reagan changed the student loan program, my building and many others almost immediately suffered a 50% decrease in occupancy.

There's still a lot of silver out there though it decreases every day

Ceteris paribus increased rates mean decreased values because the debt service will rise and fewer buyers will qualify to bid on product.

I came across one investor who said she always asks for closing help on her offers to decrease the initial out of pockets expenses.

This is because when you sell you will have to decrease the basis by the depreciation you have taken or were allowed to take.Some individuals will not take depreciation but then when they sell the property they make an adjustment to account for the depreciation in the final year.

Stuff like closing before permits are issued and allowing us to do cash out on land give us a strategic advantage and allow us to decrease project duration; thus increasing AROI.

This will be owner occupied - we intend on living in the primary house and renting out the apartment in the back.. i would just like to secure a conforming mortgage to decrease the overall costs.

If you manage them yourself, will this decrease costs?

:)So, yes, hourly wage is a factor for me, but I like to focus on decreasing my time investment in order to increase that hourly wage.

That decreases the basis (whether you take it or not.)