My goal is to shift from buying to paying off my properties as soon as the paid off property bar hits $11k per month. 

A good Realtor is there to help facilitate the deal and make the process seamless.

If the market shifts, you’ll want a backup plan in case refinancing takes longer than expected.That said, if you’re targeting the right value-add deals and have contingencies in place, this approach can work really well.

Do you think this trend is sustainable, or could we see a shift in the market soon?

But that additional amount is not magically appearing, it is just a shift from one pocket to the other.

However in the past 12-18 months I've seen the perception shift toward lean positive and trending upward.

House hacking is such a smart strategy, and your commitment to shifting your mindset is so admirable.

i also help with the set up, hosting and finding cleaners  I make it a one stop shop and the process makes it seamless and a sure thing with making money and keeping costs down.  

Originally posted by @Mike Akerly:@Peter Mai the shift will definitely come. 

My firm has several lenders who can seamlessly close in 15 days on 'traditional' mortgages at/below market rates and we've been doing so for a couple of years now.