You presented a perspective I had completely overlooked.Would you still recommend negotiating a lower purchase price vs cashier's check on closing given that we're in a higher income tax bracket and thus capital gains tax could come into play in the future? 

You get 500k of tax free gains on sale of primary home.

If you want rental property, you could take that equity and buy several houses better suited to renting.Selling now makes sense because you can also avoid the capital gains tax because you lived in the property 2 of the last 5 years. 

Nicholas,I would be paying attention to 1) the overall condition of the property and 2) how much could I rent it out for and 3) How much would the property appreciate over time.

But then wouldn’t I be losing all the gained equity in our primary home?

Cost segregation is excellent for STRs because you can take it to offset the terrific gains on this type of property as well as off-setting it against W2 income if you are materially participating in its management. 

Plus international buyers specifically from Mexico, Canada, China, Brazil, India tend to invest in Texas or Florida.Austin has really transformed with the influx of tech giants and events that attract national and international attention.

If too many people are ignoring the data, why wouldn't you be quiet about it and pay attention to it yourself, and become insanely rich from it- and sit back on your private island and laugh at all the fools who ignored it while you drink Pena Coladas From a deck chair in the sand???

This is the perfect place to connect with like-minded people, gain insights, and grow in your real estate journey.

I'm keeping my eye out of a 4plex to help reduce my, probably unreasonable, fear of vacancy risk but keeping my options open just to get started so a 2 for got my attention.